Celta de Vigo Faces Espanyol in Crucial La Liga Clash

VIGO, Spain — Celta de Vigo will host Espanyol this Saturday at Municipal de Balaídos for a critical La Liga match as teams vie for key points in the final stretch of the season.

Celta, currently in seventh place with 43 points, aims to extend their unbeaten streak to nine matches after a recent victory over Mallorca. The Sky Blues are just five points behind fifth-placed Villarreal and remain in contention for a European spot. In their last match, Celta triumphed 2-1 against Mallorca on April 5.

Espanyol, sitting 16th in the standings with 32 points, is four points clear of the relegation zone following a strong 4-0 win against Rayo Vallecano. The Catalan club has recently found form, capturing four points from their last two matches, and will enter this match seeking to improve their position.

Historically, Celta has had the upper hand against Espanyol. In 137 confrontations, Celta has secured 59 victories while Espanyol has claimed 44. Notably, at Municipal de Balaídos, Celta has a record of 36 wins in 67 encounters.

The recent statistics reflect that Celta has not won against Espanyol in their last four league matches, including suffering a 3-1 defeat in their previous encounter earlier this season.

Currently, Celta boasts a robust home record, having accumulated 30 points from 15 home matches this season, with a total of nine wins. Despite scoring 44 goals, which ranks as the sixth-best attacking record in La Liga, Celta has also conceded 43, a statistic that could impact their European aspirations.

In terms of injuries, Celta’s head coach, Carlos Carvalhal, reported no new fitness issues following the Mallorca match, suggesting he will field a similar lineup. The experienced forward Iago Aspas continues to lead the attack, while recent standout Fer López could earn a spot in the starting eleven after his goal against Mallorca.

Conversely, Espanyol will miss players due to ongoing fitness problems, but there are no new injuries reported. Head coach Manolo González will likely rely on the squad that performed well against Rayo Vallecano. Javi Puado remains a key player for Espanyol, having scored ten goals this season.

As the match approaches, Celta aims to leverage its home advantage and capitalize on their recent form, while Espanyol seeks to build on their momentum in a bid to solidify their position in La Liga.