Celta Vigo vs Athletic Bilbao: A Crucial La Liga Clash
Celta Vigo will face Athletic Bilbao in a vital La Liga showdown this weekend. The match, set for Sunday afternoon, promises to be a thrilling encounter, with both teams eyeing crucial points for different reasons. Celta, currently sitting in 10th place, are just five points behind the European spots, while Athletic Bilbao are in seventh, one point behind sixth-placed Real Betis. Both sides are eager to bounce back after their respective midweek European outings.
Celta have had a mixed season so far, with four wins, seven draws, and four losses in their 15 league games. The Sky Blues, led by coach Claudio Giraldez, are fresh off a historic 2-0 win over Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu in their last La Liga match. That victory will give them confidence as they aim to make it two wins in a row. However, their recent record against Athletic Bilbao is not encouraging, having lost four of the last five encounters between the two teams, including both La Liga meetings last season.
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Athletic Bilbao, managed by Ernesto Valverde, will be looking to maintain momentum after a hard-fought 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid in their last league game. In addition, the Lions held Paris Saint-Germain to a goalless draw in the Champions League midweek, a result that will surely boost their morale. Despite these positive results, Athletic have struggled with their goal-scoring this season, having scored just 15 goals in 16 league games. This lack of firepower could be a major obstacle if they are to push for a top-four finish.
In terms of team news, Celta will be without Joseph Aidoo and Pablo Duran due to injury, and there is doubt over Bryan Zaragoza's involvement after he was substituted during their Europa League defeat to Bologna. Changes are expected, with Iago Aspas and Hugo Alvarez potentially coming into the attack. Athletic, on the other hand, will miss several key players, including Benat Prados, Yeray Alvarez, Unai Egiluz, Maroan Sannadi, and Aymeric Laporte. Inaki Williams, who has recently returned from injury, could feature off the bench, while Nico Williams and Gorka Guruzeta are expected to start in the attacking third.
Both teams will be aiming for three points, but with Celta's inconsistent home form and Athletic's struggles in front of goal, this match could end in a draw. Celta have the second-worst home record in La Liga this season, but five of their eight home games have ended in a draw. Given these factors, a 1-1 stalemate seems a plausible outcome for this encounter.
As the season progresses, both teams will be desperate to improve their league positions, and this match could prove pivotal for their ambitions. With key players missing on both sides and both teams struggling for consistency, it’s anyone’s guess who will come out on top in this La Liga clash.
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