Real Madrid will seek to secure back-to-back La Liga wins when they travel to face Celta Vigo at the Estadio Municipal de Balaidos on Saturday night. Los Blancos currently sit second in the table with 21 points from nine matches, while Celta occupy ninth place with 13 points from the same number of games.
Celta Vigo have been an entertaining side this season, scoring 16 goals in their nine matches – the fourth-highest in the league. However, their defensive record is a concern, having conceded 15 goals, joint-third worst in La Liga. The Sky Blues enter the match on a positive note, having secured a 1-0 victory over Las Palmas before the international break.
Real Madrid, despite not being at their best, remain in contention at the top of the table. Carlo Ancelotti’s side defeated Villarreal 2-0 in their last outing, bouncing back from a draw against Atletico Madrid and a Champions League loss to Lille. The match against Celta precedes crucial fixtures against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League and El Clasico against Barcelona.
Team News:
Celta Vigo face significant absences, with top scorer Iago Aspas (four league goals) and Ilaix Moriba suspended after red cards against Las Palmas. Jailson and Luca de la Torre are injured, while Jonathan Bamba’s fitness will be assessed. Carl Starfelt is expected to overcome a knock to start in defense.
Real Madrid may be without Thibaut Courtois due to a hip issue, potentially giving Andriy Lunin another start in goal. Dani Carvajal is out for the season with a knee injury. On a positive note, Eder Militao and Vinicius Junior are likely to be available after recent injuries. Brahim Diaz and David Alaba remain sidelined.
Possible lineups:
Celta Vigo (4-3-3): Guaita; Manquillo, Starfelt, Alonso; Mingueza, Beltran, Cervi, Alvarez; Duran, Iglesias, Swedberg
Real Madrid (4-3-3): Lunin; Vazquez, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy; Valverde, Tchouameni, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Mbappe, Vinicius
Prediction: Celta Vigo 0-2 Real Madrid
Despite Celta’s strong home record and Real Madrid’s struggles on the road this season, the absence of Aspas is a significant blow for the hosts. Real Madrid’s quality should shine through, allowing them to secure a vital away victory. The match will be a test of Real Madrid’s ability to perform away from home, while also showcasing how Celta cope without their talisman Aspas.
Kylian Mbappe, who has netted five goals in eight league appearances, will look to continue his goalscoring form. Meanwhile, Jude Bellingham’s impact in midfield could be crucial for Real Madrid’s success.
This fixture presents an opportunity for Real Madrid to build momentum ahead of their challenging end to the month, while Celta Vigo aim to prove they can compete against top opposition even without key players.
