Villarreal vs Celta Vigo Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 Spanish Primera
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In dramatic circumstances, Villarreal snatched all three points late on against Sevilla at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on Friday to make it four points from two games, whilst Celta have managed to begin the campaign with back-to-back victories.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Monday 26th August, 2024 - UK – 8:30pm / US ET – 3:30pm / US PT – 12:30pm
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so Villarreal vs Celta Vigo may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN+
VILLARREAL PREVIEW: TOUGH START ON PAPER LOOKING EASY
In his first full season at El Madrigal, former Valencia coach Marcelino is beginning to make his Villarreal side look like his very best teams of the past after a positive start to the campaign. On the opening day of the season, the Yellow Submarine shared an entertaining 2-2 draw against big spending Atletico Madrid.
All four goals came in the first-half of that match and there were two goals before half-time in their second game against Sevilla, too. Arnaut Danjuma made it back-to-back games in which he has opened the scoring before Dodi Lukebakio equalised for Sevilla. Then, deep into second-half stoppage-time, new signing Ayoze Perez notched a winner for Villarreal.
CELTA VIGO PREVIEW: THE NEW VERSION OF CELTA
For the last couple of seasons, Celta Vigo have been battling against relegation and that was the case for much of last year before B team coach Claudio Giraldez came in to replace former Liverpool and Real Madrid boss Rafa Benitez. He lifted the Galicians away from the bottom three and the relegation places to towards the middle-of-the-table.
This season, they have started extremely well with a 2-1 win at Balaidos against Deportivo Alaves on the opening weekend of the season being followed up by a 3-1 defeat of Valencia at home on Friday with Oscar Mingueza and Fran Beltran both scoring as well as Iago Aspas notching his second of the campaign.
VILLARREAL TEAM NEWS: KEY ISSUES
After the loss of Alberto Moreno on a free transfer to Serie A new boys Como, another left-back, Alfonso Pedraza, is also now unavailable with an ankle ligament issue.
Argentina international Juan Foyth is also out injured causing further issues in defence as well as former Arsenal midfielder Denis Suarez being sidelined for Villarreal.
PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Diego Conde; Kiko Femenia, Kambwala, Bailly, Sergi Cardona; Akhomach, Santi Comesana, Gueye, Alex Baena; Danjuma, Ayoze Perez
UNAVAILABLE: Foyth (Injured), Alfondo Pedraza (Injured), Denis Suarez (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
CELTA VIGO TEAM NEWS: CLAUDIO GIRALDEZ’ SECRET
Claudio Giraldez is fast becoming one of the more exciting coaches in Spanish football and he will be able to continue with an unchanged side for this week’s trip to Villarreal.
The Galicians are playing quite a front foot style of football despite the fact it is quite defensive personnel with Oscar Mingueza, for example, playing as a left wing-back at the moment.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-2-1): Ivan Villar; Javi Manquillo, Starfelt, Carlos Dominguez; Hugo Alvarez, Damian Rodriguez, Fran Beltran, Oscar Mingueza; Iago Aspas, Bamba; Douvikas
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
VILLARREAL VS CELTA VIGO PREDICTION
Despite the defensive injury issues, Marcelino is blessed with an abundance of attacking options and the form Arnaut Danjuma as well as a debut goal for Ayoze Perez means they should make their first start up-front together with options off the bench such as Nicolas Pepe, captain Gerard Moreno and Yeremy Pino. Celta have started really well but there is always going to be that belief that it is slightly unsustainable so Villarreal, especially with home advantage, will be confident of victory.
VILLARREAL VS CELTA VIGO TIP: VILLARREAL TO WIN
