European-chasing Celta Vigo will be bidding to make it three straight wins in La Liga when they continue their campaign with a clash against relegation-threatened Las Palmas on Monday night.
Celta currently sit ninth in the La Liga table, five points behind sixth-placed Real Betis, while Las Palmas occupy 19th, two points behind 17th-placed Alaves in the battle to remain in the division.
Match preview
© Imago
Celta will bring a six-game unbeaten run into Monday's contest, with the Sky Blues recording four wins in that period, including successes in their last two matches against Leganes and Real Valladolid.
Claudio Giraldez's side boast a record of 11 wins, six draws and 11 defeats from their 28 league matches this season, with 39 points leaving them in ninth spot in the division, five points behind sixth-placed Real Betis.
Celta have not finished in the top six since the 2015-16 campaign, so it could be an excellent season for the club, and they are in excellent form at the perfect stage of the season, with European football for next term certainly achievable.
The Sky Blues have been strong at home this season, picking up 29 points from their 14 league matches in front of their own fans, while Las Palmas have 11 points from their 14 games on their travels.
Celta have won their last two games against Las Palmas, including a 4-1 success in the corresponding match last term, while it was 1-0 to Giraldez's team in the reverse contest back in October 2024.
© Imago
Las Palmas are without a victory since the end of December, with the strugglers currently on a 10-game winless run in Spain's top flight, which has left them lodged inside the relegation zone entering the final straight.
Diego Martinez's side have drawn two of their last three matches, sharing the points with Real Valladolid and Alaves either side of a 1-0 loss to Real Betis, and 25 points have been collected from their 28 matches this term.
Las Palmas are 19th in the table, two points behind 17th-placed Alaves, so their situation is far from terminal, but their lack of victories is a serious concern, while there have been defensive issues for the team this term.
Indeed, Pio Pio have conceded 47 times in their 28 matches, which is the second-worst defensive record behind Real Valladolid, and that could end up costing them when it comes to the battle to remain in the division.
Las Palmas were last triumphant over Celta in October 2023, running out 2-1 winners, but they have not won in Vigo since October 2011, with that match taking place in the second tier of Spanish football.
Team News
© Imago
Celta will be without the services of Williot Swedberg due to a thigh problem, while Oscar Mingueza is suspended following the yellow card that he picked up in the 1-0 victory over Real Valladolid before the international break.
Damian Rodriguez could be the player to benefit from Mingueza's absence, with the Spaniard potentially starting as the left-sided wing-back.
Iago Aspas, Alfon Gonzalez and Borja Iglesias started as the front three against Real Valladolid, and that is again expected to be the case here, while there should again be a spot in midfield for Hugo Sotelo.
As for Las Palmas, Benito Ramirez is unavailable due to a muscular problem, while Kirian Rodriguez suffered a cancer relapse at the start of February, and he will not return before the end of the campaign.
Viti Rozada and Dario Essugo will both be back in the squad after serving suspensions, with the latter in line to start, while there will be spots in the final third of the field for Fabio Silva and Sandro Ramirez.
Silva and Ramirez have both been in excellent goalscoring form for Las Palmas during the 2024-25 campaign, managing eight goals each in Spain's top flight, but there has been a lack of contribution from elsewhere in terms of goals.
Celta Vigo possible starting lineup:
Guaita; J Rodriguez, Starfelt, Alonso; Carreia, Beltran, Sotelo, Rodriguez; Aspas, Iglesias, Gonzalez
Las Palmas possible starting lineup:
Cillessen; Suarez, Herzog, McKenna, A Munoz; Essugo, Campana; Sandro, Januzaj, Moleiro; F Silva
We say: Celta Vigo 2-1 Las Palmas
Las Palmas have a lot of quality in the forward areas, and we are backing them to get their name on the scoresheet on Monday night; Celta are flying, though, and we are struggling to predict anything other than a home win here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
