Two teams battling to stay out of the relegation zone in Spain's top flight will lock horns on Sunday afternoon, with Celta Vigo welcoming Rayo Vallecano to the Estadio Municipal de Balaidos.
Celta are currently 17th in the table, five points ahead of 18th-placed Cadiz, while Rayo occupy 15th position, seven points clear of the relegation zone entering the final straight.
Match preview
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Celta named Claudio Giraldez as their new manager earlier this month following the departure of Rafael Benitez, with the 36-year-old making the step up from his coaching position with the club's reserve side.
Giraldez was able to guide the team to a win in his first match at the helm, with the Sky Blues recording a 2-1 victory over Sevilla on March 17 to make it six points from their last three games at this level of football.
Celta remain in relegation trouble, sitting 17th in the table, but they are now five points clear of 18th-placed Cadiz, and another win this weekend could potentially open up more ground on the bottom three.
The Sky Blues have been present in Spain's top flight since 2012, so it would be a surprise to see them relegated this season, but there is no getting away from the fact that it has been a tough campaign.
Celta have the fourth-worst home record in La Liga this season, picking up only 13 points from 14 matches, while Rayo have been solid on their travels, claiming 16 points from 15 games.
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Rayo will enter this contest off the back of a 2-0 victory over Real Betis, with Florian Lejeune and Sergio Camello on the scoresheet at Estadio de Vallecas.
Los Franjirrojos had been on a nine-game winless run in Spain's top flight before managing to triumph before the international break, and the result moved them onto 29 points, which is enough for 15th position.
Rayo are seven points clear of the relegation zone, and they are bidding to secure a third straight campaign at the top level, finishing 12th and 11th since returning to La Liga from the Segunda Division in 2021.
The capital outfit also recently changed their manager, with Inigo Perez replacing Francisco last month, and the 36-year-old has won one, drawn two and lost two of his five matches at the helm.
Rayo are on a six-game winless run against Celta in Spain's top flight, with their last victory over the Sky Blues coming in January 2019, but the points were shared in a goalless draw earlier this season.
Team News
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Celta will be without the services of Javi Manquillo, Mihailo Ristic and Carlos Dotor through injury, while Williot Swedberg and Renato Tapia remain doubts for the Sky Blues.
There will have to be at least one change from the side that started against Sevilla due to Manquillo's injury, and Carles Perez, who netted last time out, is expected to come into the side.
Jorgen Strand Larsen scored his 10th league goal of the campaign against Sevilla and will again lead the Celta line, with Iago Aspas and Jonathan Bamba also set to feature in the final third of the field.
As for Rayo, Kike Perez, Aridane Hernandez and Diego Mendez will miss the contest due to fitness issues.
Meanwhile, the capital outfit will also have to work around the absences of Raul de Tomas and Lejeune, as both players are suspended due to the milestone yellow cards that they picked up against Real Betis last time out.
Camello was on the scoresheet off the bench against Real Betis and is set to replace De Tomas at centre-forward, while Lejeune's absence at the back will likely open the door for Andrei Ratiu to start.
Celta Vigo possible starting lineup:
Guaita; Mingueza, U Nunez, Dominguez; Perez, Sotelo, Beltran, Alvarez; Aspas, Larsen, Bamba
Rayo Vallecano possible starting lineup:
Dimitrievski; Balliu, Mumin, Ratiu, Chavarria; U Lopez, Valentin; De Frutos, Palazon, A Garcia; Camello
We say: Celta Vigo 1-1 Rayo Vallecano
Four of the last six La Liga matches between these two sides have finished level, and we are predicting another stalemate on Sunday. Celta have only won three times at home in the league this season and might be forced to settle for a point against a team two spots and two points above them in the table.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
