Celta Set to Face Espanyol with Key Lineup Change

Vigo, Spain – Celta de Vigo will feature Hugo Sotelo in their midfield as they prepare to face RCD Espanyol on April 12, 2025, in a La Liga clash at the Estadio Municipal de Balaídos.

Coach Claudio Giráldez has made only one change to his starting lineup, opting for Sotelo to bolster the midfield. This decision follows a recent string of strong performances from the Celta squad, including a crucial victory over Rayo Vallecano.

“Hugo brings a unique dynamic to our midfield that we believe will be instrumental against Espanyol,” Giráldez stated. The Celta lineup will also see the return of star forward Iago Aspas, along with Alfon and Pablo Durán at the front, maintaining the attacking corps that has produced significant results in previous matches.

On the opposing side, Espanyol’s head coach Manolo González will keep faith in the same eleven that clinched a 4-0 victory against Rayo Vallecano last week. This includes Kumbulla and Cabrera anchoring the defense.

González’s steadfast approach indicates confidence in his squad, particularly after a convincing away win. “Tactical consistency can be crucial in maintaining momentum,” he remarked before the match.

The starting lineups for both teams include:

RC Celta: Guaita; Javi Rodríguez, Starfelt, Marcos Alonso; Carreira, Hugo Sotelo, Beltrán, Mingueza; Aspas, Alfon, and Pablo Durán.

RCD Espanyol: Joan García; Omar El Hilali, Kumbulla, Cabrera, Romero; Roca, Pol Lozano, Urko, Puado; Edu Expósito; and Roberto Fernández.

This match is critical for both teams as they continue to fight for valuable points in the La Liga standings. The atmosphere at Balaídos is expected to be electric as fans rally behind Celta in hopes of a positive result.