Ace Football previews the La Liga match between Real Madrid and Celta Vigo, and offers the latest stats, tips, and team news.
The two most in-form clubs in La Liga square off on Saturday night as Celta Vigo take the daunting trip to the Spanish capital to face Real Madrid.
The hosts lost valuable ground in the title race last weekend, leaving them two points behind league leaders Atletico Madrid in the league standings. Their city rivals also have two games in hand. Celta Vigo, meanwhile, sit just three points outside the top-four in eight-place.
Both sides settled for a 2-2 draw in their last meeting in Madrid last February, ending the hosts’ four-match winning run against Celta in La Liga.
The reigning champions will be desperate, though, to bag another three points on Saturday. But with Celta in such fine form, the visitors will surely fancy their chances of pulling off an upset in the Spanish capital.
Real Madrid Form & Stats
Zinedine Zidane’s men were denied a sixth consecutive league win on Wednesday upon being held to a 1-1 draw by Elche. Luka Modric had put them in front in only the 20th-minute before Fidel’s second-half penalty won the hosts an unexpected point at the Manuel Martinez Valero Stadium.
Nevertheless, Los Blancos have been in impressive form and sit just two points behind La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid. Diego Simeone’s men may have two games in hand, but there is still a long way to go yet.
Despite upsets against Cadiz and Alaves earlier in the season, Real Madrid have shown strong form at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium by winning five of their seven league games. They’ve also collected 16 out of an available 18 points in their last six games.
Although the absence of skipper Sergio Ramos is an unwelcome setback for the hosts.
Key Team Stats
- Won 6 of their last 7 games in all competitions.
- Won 12 of their last 14 home league games (L2).
- Scored at least 2 goals in their last 8 games against Celta Vigo in all competitions.
- Karim Benzema has scored 6 goals in his last 6 games in all competitions.
- Scored the first goal in 13 of their 16 league games.
Celta Vigo Form & Stats
Sometimes a change of manager does the trick, as Celta can attest.
The visitors have enjoyed a remarkable upturn in form since replacing Oscar Garcia with Eduardo Coudet as manager. The relatively unknown Argentine, who previously coached Racing Club in his homeland, has had an impressive start to his first job in Europe. He’s only lost once in his eight games in charge so far (W6 D1).
More noteworthy is how Celta have climbed from 17th, and just a point above the relegation zone, to eighth in Coudet’s 51 days at the helm. The Celtics, in fact, are just three points outside the top-four and a Champions League spot.
Celta have also won six of their last seven games in all competitions, including two on the road. They are also the most in-form club in La Liga alongside Real Madrid on a whopping 16 points from a possible 18.
The visitors may be the underdogs away to Real Madrid, but they can certainly do damage. And with Ramos out of the picture, Iago Aspas will be hopeful of continuing his brilliant run of form in the Celta attack.
Key Team Stats
- Won 6 of their last 7 games in all competitions (D1).
- Won 2 of their last 3 away league games (D1).
- Lost 4 of their last 5 league games against Real Madrid (D1).
- Iago Aspas has had 12 goal involvements in his 9 league games (6 goals, 6 assists).
Team News
Real Madrid
Out: Rodrygo Goes, Sergio Ramos.
Doubts: N/A.
Celta Vigo
Out: Sergio Alavez, David Junca.
Doubts: Kevin Vazquez.
Predicted Line-up
(Note: The image will change to the official XI once they’re both announced)
Top Goalscorers in La Liga
Head-To-Head Record
Below are some head-to-head stats on each team’s recent form in La Liga.
Match Facts
Betting Tips
More Odds
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