Rayo Vallecano vs Celta Vigo Preview: Team News & Prediction
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These are two of the more entertaining teams in La Liga getting the full league schedule back underway after the winter break as Rayo Vallecano take on Celta Vigo at Vallecas.
Kick-off date/time: Friday 10th January, 2025: UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm
How to watch on TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so Rayo Vallecano vs Celta Vigo may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
How to watch online: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN+
Rayo Vallecano Preview: In Andoni Iraola’s image
Inigo Perez, the former assistant coach to Andoni Iraola at Rayo Vallecano, has been able to implement the entertaining style of football of the former Rayo coach at Vallecas as they try and hold onto the coattails of the push for a top seven or eight finish and European qualification.
The Madrid-based club come into this one on the back of a 3-1 defeat of Racing Ferrol in the Round of 32 of the Copa del Rey in their most recent outing last weekend. That means they are now unbeaten in their last six matches across all competitions.
Celta Vigo Preview: Silky, fun Celta
In their 18 matches in La Liga so far this season, there has been 55 goals in Celta Vigo matches as the Galicians try and push onto the top-half this year after spending the vast majority of last season battling against relegation under former Real Madrid boss Rafa Benitez.
Former B team coach Claudio Giraldez has completely transformed the style of football at Balaidos with Celta wanting to always be on the front foot and they managed another entertaining and dramatic 3-2 victory over Racing Santander in the Copa del Rey last weekend.
Rayo Vallecano Team News: Goalkeeper issue
First-choice goalkeeper Augusto Batalla is missing this weekend due to injury and Rayo, despite having a plethora of options in the final third, have a few doubts in attack with Raul de Tomas dealing with illness, whilst Alvaro Garcia is an injury doubt, too.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Dani Cardenas; Ratiu, Aridane, Lejeune, Pep Chavarria; Ciss, Unai Lopez; Adri Embarba, Isi Palazon, Alvaro Garcia; Nteka
Unavailable: Augusto Batalla (Injured)
Questionable: Alvaro Garcia (Injured), Raul de Tomas (Illness)
Celta Vigo Team News: Plenty of doubts
Celta are dealing with plenty of injury doubts ahead of the trip to the capital this weekend with former Newcastle United defender Javi Manquillo and Greece international Tasos Douvikas potentially unavailable. Javi Rodriguez is missing through suspension for this weekend.
Predicted XI (3-4-3): Vicente Guaita; Hugo Alvarez, Starfelt, Marcos Alonso; Sergio Carreira, Fran Beltran, Ilaix Moriba, Oscar Mingueza; Iago Aspas, Borja Iglesias, Pablo Duran
Unavailable: Javi Rodriguez (Suspended)
Questionable: Javi Manquillo (Injured), Ristic (Injured), Jailson (Injured), Hugo Sotelo (Injured), Douvikas (Injured)
Rayo Vallecano vs Celta Vigo Prediction
As mentioned, this is a clash between two of the more entertaining teams in La Liga. Rayo Vallecano swarm their opposition and try to suffocate them, especially when playing at home. Celta play quite an open style of football and try to exploit teams on the break with their 3-4-3 system and those two styles should mean this one is quite an entertaining and high-scoring affair for the neutral at Vallecas.
Rayo Vallecano vs Celta Vigo Tip: Both teams to score
