Villarreal will travel to Vigo this Friday to take on Celta in the 17th round of the 2022/23 La Liga season.
Venue: Estadio de Balaídos (Vigo)
Key Statistics
Celta Vigo have won only once in their last nine league games (D3, L5).
They have failed to win their last seven La Liga games when starting as outsiders (D1, L6).
The hosts are unbeaten in their last four competitive games (90 minutes only -D2, W2).
Villarreal have won their last six competitive games.
The visitors have kept just two clean sheets in their last 12 competitive games.
They have conceded just 12 league goals this season. Only Barcelona (6) have conceded fewer goals after 17 La Liga games this term.
Head to head
Villarreal have five wins in the last ten meetings with Celta Vigo. The hosts have four wins and a draw within the same period.
Latest performances in all competitions
Celta Vigo: W-L-D-W-W
Villarreal: W-W-W-W-W
Celta Vigo
Celta Vigo finally got their first win under their new manager, Carlos Carvalhal, in their last outing when they defeated Elche 1-0.
The win was the Sky Blues’ first La Liga triumph in three months (W1, D3, L5) and also marked the first time they’ve gone three league games unbeaten this season.
It shows that a new era has finally begun at the club, who are playing better and more confidently since the restart. They hope to continue that brilliant form in their attempt to secure another mid-table finish.
Celta secured a safe mid-table finish last season despite earning just 16 points from their first 16 matches. So Carvalhal’s players don’t have to go back far to know they can mount a strong recovery, particularly if they can repeat or better last season’s effort of just two losses from rounds 14 to 25 (W5, D5, L2) that included a 1-1 home draw with Villarreal.
Possible Celta Vigo starting lineup
Agustín Marchesín, Hugo Mallo, Oscar Mingueza, Joseph Aidoo, Unai Núñez, Javi Galán, Gabriel Veiga, Fran Beltrán, Franco Cervi, Iago Aspas, Gonçalo Paciência.
Injured: Denis Suarez
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Villarreal
Villarreal will travel to Estadio de Balaídos in a buoyant mood after becoming just the second club to beat Real Madrid in La Liga this season.
The hosts recorded a 2-1 home win over Real Madrid last weekend thanks to second-half goals from Yeremy Pino and Gerard Moreno. The win, hailed by new manager Quique Setién as “an extraordinary game against an extraordinary rival“ has put Villarreal again within touching distance of the top four.
They will now look to build on their current momentum and work at sealing their highest finish since returning to the top flight in 2013/14.
With this the first of four consecutive La Liga games against bottom-half opposition (at the start of this round), it’s a tremendous opportunity to gather more points and confidence ahead of a February meeting with Barcelona.
Possible Villarreal starting lineup
Pepe Reina, Juan Foyth, Raul Albiol, Pau Francisco Torres, Alberto Moreno, Alejandro Baena, Francis Coquelin, Daniel Parejo, Samuel Chukwueze, Gerard Moreno, Yéremi Pino.
Injured: None
Doubtful: Giovani Lo Celso
Suspended: None
Odds
Prediction
Celta Vigo 1-2 Villarreal
