Celta Vigo Vs Alavés as Sunday’s Balaidos test nears: table stakes, form lines, and team news
celta vigo vs alavés comes into focus ahead of Sunday afternoon in Spain’s top flight, with the hosts aiming to return to winning ways in the league and the visitors fighting to stay clear of the bottom three. The match is set for Balaidos Stadium, with both teams arriving off draws in their most recent La Liga outings.
What happens when Celta Vigo Vs Alavés collides with a tight mid-table race and a relegation scrap?
Celta start the weekend sixth in the La Liga table on 41 points, three points ahead of seventh-placed Real Sociedad. Their league form last time out ended 1-1 against Real Betis, while their most recent home league match finished in a 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid. Despite holding sixth, Celta’s home returns have been described as disappointing this season, with 17 points taken from 14 league matches in front of their own fans.
Alaves arrive 17th with 28 points after 28 matches, sitting two points outside of the relegation zone and only two points ahead of 18th-placed Elche in the battle to remain in the division. Their latest league game ended 1-1 with Villarreal, a result that followed back-to-back defeats to Levante and Valencia.
Beyond the domestic picture, Celta also come into the weekend after a 2-0 win over Lyon in the second leg of their Europa League last-16 tie, sealing a 3-1 aggregate success. That sets up a quarter-final against Freiburg, while Alaves are noted as the fresher of the two teams entering the weekend.
What if the head-to-head and recent meetings set the tone?
Recent matchups between the sides have leaned Celta’s way. Celta recorded a 1-0 win over Alaves in the reverse match earlier this season, and the corresponding clash last term ended 2-1 to the Sky Blues.
In the broader historical series across all competitions, Alaves have won 21 of the previous 63 meetings, with Celta taking 27 victories and 15 ending level. That long-run balance underscores why Sunday’s meeting can swing on small margins, even with the teams entering at different points in the table.
| Snapshot | Celta | Alaves |
|---|---|---|
| League position | 6th | 17th |
| Record after 28 matches | 10 wins, 11 draws, 7 defeats | 7 wins, 7 draws, 14 defeats |
| Points | 41 | 28 |
| Most recent league result | 1-1 vs Real Betis | 1-1 vs Villarreal |
| Reverse fixture this season | Won 1-0 | Lost 0-1 |
What happens when absences and coaching changes shape selection?
Celta will be without Miguel Roman due to injury, with the 23-year-old likely to miss the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign. Ilaix Moriba is also unavailable through suspension after picking up a milestone yellow card in the draw with Real Betis. In attack, Borja Iglesias is set to lead the line after being named in the latest Spain squad, and he will be looking to add to the 15 goals he has scored this season.
For Alaves, Carlos Protesoni is an injury doubt and faces a late fitness test ahead of Sunday. Youssef Enriquez is suspended after picking up a milestone yellow card in the draw with Villarreal. On the touchline, Alaves appointed Quique Sanchez Flores as head coach at the start of March; he has taken one point from his first two games in charge, with the club still locked in a close survival fight.
With Celta balancing domestic ambitions and recent European momentum, and Alaves trying to turn draws into separation from danger, celta vigo vs alavés sets up as a direct clash between a side protecting a top-six position and a team looking for breathing room near the bottom.
