Celta Vigo vs Espanyol: Prediction, Team News, and Lineups
Celta Vigo is set to host Espanyol at the Municipal de Balaidos on Sunday for a critical La Liga encounter. The matchday 14 clash sees both teams arriving with differing performances in the league. Celta Vigo has struggled to capitalize on home advantage, while Espanyol has had a more stable season thus far.
Celta Vigo’s Recent Performance
This season has been challenging for Celta Vigo, particularly at their home ground. They remain winless in seven league matches at Balaidos, recording five draws and two losses. Despite these struggles, the team has shown resilience away from home, securing a vital 1-0 victory against Deportivo Alaves recently.
After 13 matches, Celta has achieved three wins, seven draws, and three defeats, accumulating 16 points and sitting in 12th place in La Liga. Their defensive record has been shaky, conceding 18 goals while scoring 16. Coach Claudio Giraldez’s tactical changes have fostered some stability, with the team winning four of their last six competitions. However, a 3-2 defeat to Ludogorets Razgrad in the Europa League highlighted ongoing defensive concerns.
Espanyol’s Solid Season
Conversely, Espanyol has exceeded expectations, positioned sixth in La Liga with 21 points from 13 matches. They have secured six wins, three draws, and four losses, maintaining a positive goal difference by scoring 17 goals and conceding 16. Their confidence surged after a significant 2-1 victory over Sevilla, demonstrating tactical preparedness.
Nonetheless, Espanyol’s away record reveals vulnerabilities, boasting only one win, two draws, and two losses. Consistency remains a challenge for the team, but they historically have performed well against Celta, winning three of their last five encounters, with their last meeting ending in a 2-0 victory for Espanyol.
Team News and Injuries
Celta Vigo will miss Carlos Dominguez due to a thigh injury, expected to keep him sidelined until early December. While Ivan Villar returned for their midweek match, Ionut Radu is anticipated to start. Key players, including Carl Starfelt and club legend Iago Aspas, have returned from injuries and will likely play significant roles in the match.
Espanyol will be without Javier Puado, also recovering from a knee injury and projected to return in December. Coach Manolo Gonzalez is expected to field a lineup similar to that which defeated Sevilla, with Fernando Calero and Leandro Cabrera in defense and Kike Garcia leading the attack alongside Pere Milla.
Predicted Lineups
- Celta Vigo: Radu; Rodriguez, Starfelt, Alonso; Rueda, Beltran, Moriba, Carreira; Aspas, Zaragoza; Duran
- Espanyol: Dmitrovic; Romero, Cabrera, Calero, El Hilali; Terrats, Exposito, Gonzalez, Dolan; Milla, Kike
Match Prediction
Forecasting the outcome, El-Balad predicts a tightly contested match. Celta Vigo, bolstered by home support, is expected to edge a close contest against the disciplined Espanyol side with a final score of 1-0.
