Celta Vigo will be bidding to record their first La Liga victory of 2025 when they welcome Real Betis on Saturday afternoon.
The hosts have only picked up one point from their last four league matches, which has seen them drop into 13th spot in the La Liga table, while Real Betis are 10th, boasting 29 points from their opening 22 games.
Match preview
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Celta ended 2024 with a 2-0 home success over Real Sociedad, but it has not been a happy start to 2025 for the Sky Blues, picking up just one point from their four league fixtures this year, and they will enter the clash off the back of a 2-1 loss to Valencia.
Claudio Giraldez's side currently sit in 13th spot in the table, boasting a record of seven wins, four draws and 11 defeats from 22 matches to collect 25 points, four points behind 10th-placed Real Betis.
Celta's home form this season has been strong, picking up 20 points from their 11 matches in front of their own supporters, but they have found it difficult on their travels, only collecting five points from 11 games.
The Sky Blues finished 13th in La Liga last season, so their current spot in the table is not a surprise, but there is enough quality in the squad to push for a top-half finish this term.
Celta have actually scored 31 times in their 22 league matches during the 2024-25 campaign, just six fewer then second-placed Atletico Madrid, but they have conceded 35, which is the fourth-worst record in the division.
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As for Real Betis, a record of seven wins, eight draws and seven defeats from 22 matches has seen them pick up 29 points, which has left them in 10th spot in the table, just three points behind sixth-placed Rayo Vallecano.
Los Verdiblancos finished seventh in La Liga last term, and they are in the knockout round playoffs in the Conference League, with the team preparing to tackle Gent over two legs for a spot in the next round.
Real Betis have picked up four points from their last two league matches, beating Mallorca 1-0 in their last away fixture before drawing 2-2 with Athletic Bilbao last time out.
Twice Manuel Pellegrini's side led against Athletic on home soil, but the Lions answered back on both occasions to secure a share of the spoils; the Greens have only lost two of their 11 home league games this term but have been beaten five times on their travels.
These two teams played out a 2-2 draw in the reverse match earlier this season, but Celta recorded a 2-1 victory when the pair locked horns in Vigo during the 2023-24 campaign.
Team News
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Celta will welcome Hugo Alvarez, Oscar Mingueza and Marcos Alonso back into their squad following suspensions, but Carl Starfelt will now be unavailable due to a ban of his own.
The Sky Blues are also again expected to be without the services of Franco Cervi, Unai Nunez, Iago Aspas and Miguel Rodriguez, with injuries hitting the team hard at a vital stage of the season.
Borja Iglesias is again set to lead the line for Celta, with Pablo Duran featuring down the right, while Cervi's injury will open the door for Alvarez to make his return as the left-sided wing-back.
As for Real Betis, Pablo Fornals, Ezequiel Avila, Hector Bellerin, Aitor Ruibal, Youssouf Sabaly and William Carvalho will miss the contest due to injury problems.
Antony made his debut against Athletic following his arrival on loan from Manchester United, and the Brazilian is once again expected to feature down the right for the Seville outfit this weekend.
Cedric Bakambu is likely to continue as the centre-forward, but there could be a change down the left, with Giovani Lo Celso in line to return to the starting side.
Celta Vigo possible starting lineup:
Guaita; Mingueza, J Rodriguez, Alonso; Carreira, Beltran, Moriba, Alvarez; Duran, Iglesias, Swedberg
Real Betis possible starting lineup:
Adrian; Ortiz, Llorente, Natan, Perraud; Cardoso, Altimira; Antony, Isco, Lo Celso; Bakambu
We say: Celta Vigo 1-1 Real Betis
Celta have been in strong form in front of their own fans this season, only losing three of their 11 league matches on home soil, while Real Betis have posted just three away victories in 2024-25. The visitors will enter this match in the stronger form, but we are expecting Celta to be good enough to secure a share of the spoils on Saturday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
