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Celta Vigo logo
La Liga | Gameweek 21
Feb 12, 2023 at 3.15pm UK
Estadio de Balaídos
Atletico Madrid logo

Celta Vigo
0 - 1
Atletico


Aidoo (4'), Veiga (8')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Depay (89')
Mandava (41'), Simeone (72'), Molina (87')

Preview: Celta Vigo vs. Atletico Madrid - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Sunday's La Liga clash between Celta Vigo and Atletico Madrid, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Atletico Madrid will be bidding to return to winning ways in Spain's top flight when they travel to an in-form Celta Vigo on Sunday afternoon.

The visitors will enter the contest off the back of a 1-1 home draw with struggling Getafe, while Celta were on the right end of a seven-goal thriller with Real Betis in Seville last time out.


Match preview

Barcelona's Gavi in action with Celta Vigo's Oscar Rodriguez on October 9, 2022© Reuters

Celta have had their problems this season, and they are only four points clear of the relegation zone heading into the next set of matches, but the Sky Blues do appear to have turned a corner in terms of their form.

Indeed, Carlos Carvalhal's side have only lost one of their last seven in La Liga, which has included victories over Elche, Athletic Bilbao and Real Betis, with two of those wins coming in their last two matches.

As mentioned, Celta overcame Real Betis last weekend, with Gabri Veiga netted twice during a standout performance, while Jorgen Strand Larsen and Joseph Aidoo were also on the scoresheet.

The result moved Carvalhal's side into 12th position in the table, one point behind 11th-placed Girona, but they now have two difficult matches against Atletico and Real Sociedad before ending the month at home to Real Valladolid.

Celta's home form this season has been patchy, only picking up 13 points from their 10 games in front of their own supporters, and they will be welcoming an Atletico side that have won six times on their travels in the league this term, boasting the fourth-best record in the division.

Atletico Madrid's Alvaro Morata celebrates scoring against Real Madrid on January 26, 2023© Reuters

Atletico, meanwhile, will enter this match off the back of a 1-1 draw with Getafe last weekend; Angel Correa sent the hosts ahead in the 60th minute, but Getafe levelled in the 83rd minute through Enes Unal.

Simeone's side are unbeaten in their four league games since losing at home to Barcelona, but they were also held by Almeria in the middle of last month, and their position in the top four is far from secure.

Indeed, the Red and Whites are currently fourth in the table, three points ahead of fifth-placed Rayo Vallecano, while they are 18 points behind division leaders Barcelona.

There remains widespread speculation surrounding Simeone's future at the club, and there is pressure on the Argentine to oversee a strong finish to the league campaign, as the team do not have any European football, while they were knocked out of the Copa del Rey by Real Madrid.

Atletico have won each of their last three league games against Celta, including a 4-1 victory in the reverse match at Wanda Metropolitano earlier this season.

Celta Vigo La Liga form:


Celta Vigo form (all competitions):


Atletico Madrid La Liga form:


Atletico Madrid form (all competitions):



Team News

Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann celebrates scoring their second goal with Reinildo Mandava, Axel Witsel and Mario Hermoso on January 21, 2023© Reuters

Celta will again be missing Agustin Marchesin this weekend due to a long-term knee problem.

Meanwhile, the Sky Blues will be without the services of central defender Unai Nunez through suspension, which will open the door for Hugo Mallo to come into the starting side for this match.

There are unlikely to be any major surprises when it comes to the Celta XI for this match, with Iago Aspas again set to be joined by Larsen in the final third, while Carles Perez should feature on the right of a midfield four.

Atletico, meanwhile, have not reported any injury concerns ahead of Sunday's contest in Vigo.

Simeone could decide to switch to a back three for this match, with Marcos Llorente and Pablo Barrios potentially coming in for starts in midfield.

Memphis Depay is again expected to be named among the substitutes, with Alvaro Morata and Antoine Griezmann likely to feature as the front two.

Correa was on the scoresheet against Getafe last time out, but the possible change of formation could see the Argentine drop down to the bench for Sunday's clash.

Celta Vigo possible starting lineup:
Villar; Mallo, Aidoo, Mingueza, Galan; Perez, Beltran, Veiga, De la Torre; Aspas, Larsen

Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:
Oblak; Reinildo, Savic, Hermoso; Molina, Llorente, Barrios, Koke, Lemar; Griezmann, Morata


SM words green background

We say: Celta Vigo 1-1 Atletico Madrid

Atletico are difficult to back with any real confidence at the moment, with the Red and Whites finding it difficult to show their best form. We are not expecting Simeone's side to lose, but Celta are not being beaten at the moment, so we have had to settle on a low-scoring draw in Vigo.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:data


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Written by
Matt Law

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Game History

How you voted: Celta Vigo vs Atletico

Celta Vigo
20.2%
Draw
22.8%
Atletico Madrid
57.0%
114
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Atletico MadridAtletico18125133122141
2Barcelona19122551222938
3Real Madrid17114237162137
4Athletic Bilbao19106329171236
5Mallorca199371921-230
6Villarreal177642928127
7Real Sociedad187471613325
8GironaGirona187472625125
9Osasuna186752327-425
10Celta Vigo187382728-124
11Real BetisBetis176652021-124
12Sevilla176471823-522
13Rayo Vallecano175661920-121
14Las PalmasLas Palmas175482227-519
15Leganes174671523-818
16Getafe183781115-416
17AlavesAlaves174491928-916
18Espanyol1743101629-1315
19Real ValladolidValladolid1833121237-2512
20Valencia162591424-1011


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