Verdict: Away win
Best odds: 4/7
Bookmaker: BetUS
Real Madrid will look to build momentum when they face Celta Vigo at the Estadio Municipal de Balaidos on Saturday night. After securing 21 points from their first nine games, Los Blancos sit second in the La Liga table, just behind leaders Barcelona. Carlo Ancelotti’s side will aim to keep up the pressure at the top as they seek back-to-back victories following their recent league success.
Celta Vigo, meanwhile, have had a solid start of their own, accumulating 13 points from nine matches, which sees them in ninth place. They will be eager to prove themselves against the La Liga giants and maintain their positive momentum at home.
Celta Vigo
Celta Vigo have been an entertaining side to watch in La Liga this season, with a record of four wins, one draw, and four defeats from their nine matches. They have been particularly effective in attack, netting 16 goals so far, trailing only Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Villarreal on that front. However, their defensive vulnerabilities are clear, having conceded 15 goals, placing them among the worst defences in the division.
Before the international break, Celta earned a hard-fought 1-0 win over Las Palmas, thanks to Borja Iglesias’s first-half strike. Their solid home form has been a key factor this season, as they boast the third-best home record in the league, amassing 10 points from five home games. This will give them some confidence as they host a Real Madrid side that has struggled on the road, winning just once in four away La Liga matches this term.
On the other hand, Celta face a daunting challenge on Saturday. They have lost their last eight league encounters with Real Madrid, with their last top-flight victory over Los Blancos coming more than a decade ago, making their task a considerable one as they seek to end this long-standing losing streak.
Team News
Celta Vigo will be without two key players due to suspension for their clash against Real Madrid, as Iago Aspas and Ilaix Moriba are both serving bans after receiving red cards in the victory over Las Palmas. Aspas’s absence is particularly significant, given his four goals in La Liga this season. In addition to the suspensions, Jailson and Luca de la Torre remain sidelined through injury, while Jonathan Bamba’s availability is uncertain as he faces a late fitness test.
On the positive side, Carl Starfelt is expected to shake off a knock and continue in central defence. The absences of Aspas and Moriba could provide opportunities for Pablo Duran and Franco Cervi to come into the starting XI, as Claudio Giraldez looks to reshuffle his squad in their bid to upset Real Madrid.
Real Madrid
Real Madrid have had a somewhat inconsistent start to their 2024/25 campaign, but they remain well-placed in La Liga, sitting second, just three points behind Barcelona ahead of the much-anticipated El Clasico next weekend. Carlo Ancelotti’s men secured a 2-0 victory over Villarreal before the international break, which followed a 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid in the city derby and a 1-0 defeat to Lille in the Champions League.
This month presents a challenging schedule for Los Blancos, as they are set to face Borussia Dortmund in Europe midweek before the showdown with Barcelona. Despite their mixed form, Real will be buoyed by their recent dominance over Celta Vigo, having won their last three meetings without conceding a goal. However, away from home, their league form has been shaky this season, with just one win in four matches, including draws against Mallorca, Las Palmas, and Atletico.
There have been discussions about how Kylian Mbappe’s arrival might have disrupted the team’s balance, but the French star has still delivered five goals in eight league appearances. Meanwhile, Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo have contributed three goals each, showing that Real Madrid’s attacking power remains potent, even as the team looks to fully hit its stride.
Team News
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is still a doubt with a hip problem. If the Belgian isn’t ready in time, Andriy Lunin will continue to deputize between the posts.
Dani Carvajal is out for the season, and though the club have been heavily linked with Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, at the moment, Ancelotti is likely to turn to Lucas Vazquez to cover the right defensive flank.
Vinicius and Eder Militao both had problems against Villarreal, but they’re expected to be fit on Saturday.
Conclusion
Neither of these teams has reached the desired level of consistency, but Real Madrid should be able to walk away with all three points and improve their away record.
Verdict: Away win
Best odds: 4/7
Bookmaker: BetUS
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