Bosnia And Herzegovina
Czech Republic
Hungary
Indonesia
South Korea
United Arab Emirates

Celta Vigovs.Athletic Bilbao

sportsmole.co.uk, 13 May 2024, 22:00
Celta Vigo will continue their survival fight when they face Athletic Bilbao in Wednesday's La Liga clash at Balaidos.

The Galician hosts head into matchday 36 in 18th position, while Los Leones are sitting in fifth place after collecting 61 points from 35 matches.

Match preview

Celta suffered a third consecutive away defeat at the weekend despite putting in a determined display in their away meeting with fourth-placed Atletico Madrid.

Claudio Giraldez's side kept Atleti at bay until the 84th minute when Rodrigo De Paul scored a sensational winner to condemn Celta to their 17th league defeat of the season - only Granada and Almeria have lost more games in La Liga this term.

Despite falling to add to their 34-point tally, Celta still have a sizeable five-point buffer between themselves and Cadiz ahead of their final three fixtures against Athletic, Granada and Valencia.

With Celta looking to extend their 12-year stay in the top flight, they can secure mathematical safety on matchday 36 if they beat Athletic and Cadiz lose to Sevilla.

Los Celestes may only have the fourth-best home record in the division, but they have fared well in recent outings at Balaidos, having won three of their previous four matches in front of their supporters.

After winning their last two home matches, Celta now have the opportunity to claim three consecutive home league wins for the first time since the 2020-21 season.

Since winning the Copa del Rey, Athletic have experienced an inconsistent run of league form, with their last five matches producing one win, three draws and one defeat.

Los Leones managed to show great fight to salvage a 2-2 draw in Saturday's home clash with Osasuna thanks to Inaki Williams's 58th-minute effort and Asier Villalibre's stoppage-time equaliser.

Although rescued a point, Athletic's Champions League hopes were all but ended by Atletico Madrid's 1-0 win over Celta Vigo, leaving the Basque side eight points adrift of the top four with three games left to play.

Los Leones can still be proud of the fact that they are on the verge of securing Europa League qualification and a fifth-placed finish, which would represent their best La Liga season since 2015-16.

Athletic's success has been built upon a foundation of strong defence which has conceded just 35 league goals in as many matches - only champions Real Madrid have let in fewer this season.

Athletic were not at their defensive best in November's reverse fixture, but they still had the firepower required to claim a 4-3 win over Celta at San Mames.

Celta Vigo La Liga form:

D

L

W

L

W

L

Athletic Bilbao La Liga form:

L

D

D

L

W

D

Athletic Bilbao form (all competitions):

W

D

D

L

W

D

Team News

Mihailo Ristic missed the defeat to Atletico due to an ankle problem, and the left-back is unlikely to recover for the midweek clash with Athletic.

Joseph Aidoo remains a long-term absentee, but Carles Perez and Williot Swedberg should be available after returning to training.

Celta legend Iago Aspas will be one of the home side's main attacking outlets after scoring three goals in the last two matches at Balaidos.

Meanwhile, Gorka Guruzeta underwent appendix surgery earlier this month and will not feature in any of Athletic's final three matches.

Oihan Sancet and Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta have stepped up their respective recoveries, but the pair are unlikely to be involved in Wednesday's away fixture.

Left-back Yuri Berchiche will drop out of the squad to serve a one-match suspension after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season.

In positive news, Yeray Alvarez and Aitor Paredes are back from suspension, with the latter set to partner Dani Vivian in central defence.

Celta Vigo possible starting lineup:

Guaita; Nunez, Starfelt, Jailson; Mingueza, Beltran, Rodriguez, Alvarez; Aspas, Swedberg, Larsen

Athletic Bilbao possible starting lineup:

Simon; De Marcos, Paredes, Vivian, Lekue; Prados, Vesga; I Williams, Muniain, N Williams; Villalibre

We say: Celta Vigo 1-1 Athletic Bilbao

Athletic have won just two of their last eight away league games, and we think that they will have to settle for a draw against a Celta side that has avoided defeat in each of their previous four home matches.

Previews by email
Show more

Top News

13 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Como president Mirwan Suwarso has confirmed the Italian club attempted to sign Marcus Rashford from Manchester United in the winter transfer window. 13 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly entered the race to sign Real Madrid-linked defender Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson will reportedly miss around six weeks of action due to a hamstring injury. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Reece James is set to return to the lineup for Chelsea's Premier League away meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion on Friday. 12 February 2025 talksport.com Virgil van Dijk couldn't resist making a dig at Everton players and fans after Liverpool were denied Merseyside's bragging rights at the death. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Celtic's return to the Champions League knockout rounds ended in a 2-1 first-leg defeat against Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Celtic's return to the Champions League knockout rounds ended in a 2-1 first-leg defeat against Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich. 12 February 2025 talksport.com The final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park ended crazily with Arne Slot, Curtis Jones and Abdoulaye Doucoure all getting sent off after the final whistle. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool wing wizard Mohamed Salah both broke a Premier League record and extended one of his existing ones in the Reds' pulsating 2-2 Merseyside derby draw with Everton at Goodison Park. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Everton and Liverpool played out a thrilling 2-2 draw in the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park in the Premier League on Wednesday night, with James Tarkowski scoring a dramatic last-gasp equaliser. 12 February 2025 talksport.com Harry Kane has scored his first goal against a Scottish side, firing in for Bayern Munich in their Champions League knockout play-off first leg at Celtic. 12 February 2025 talksport.com Chelsea have been dealt another major injury blow with first choice striker Nicolas Jackson ruled out until April, talkSPORT understands. 12 February 2025 talksport.com West Ham's Jarrod Bowen has planted himself in the history books, and this time, it's in the Queen Vic rather than the London Stadium. 12 February 2025 talksport.com Mohamed Salah made Premier League history with his role in Liverpool's equaliser at Everton. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Reece James and Nicolas Jackson could start Chelsea's Premier League away meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion on Friday. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Brighton & Hove Albion captain Lewis Dunk is a major doubt for Friday's Premier League clash with Chelsea at the Amex Stadium. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Boavista have announced that they have strengthened their squad with the addition of nine players. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Six days after they locked horns in the FA Cup, Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea will recommence battle when they meet in Friday's Premier League clash at the Amex Stadium. 12 February 2025 talksport.com Everton and Liverpool will both be out for more than just bragging rights in the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park tonight. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United reportedly had scouts at Sporting Lisbon's league contest with Porto last week to watch Geovany Quenda following claims that the Red Devils have a deal in place to sign the youngster this summer. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk RB Leipzig are reportedly open to letting Benjamin Sesko leave during this summer's transfer window, with Arsenal and Manchester United said to be among the clubs interested in his services. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola reportedly views Bayer Leverkusen attacker Florian Wirtz as his 'dream replacement' for Kevin De Bruyne, but it will take an astronomical fee to secure his services. 12 February 2025 talksport.com Kai Havertz being ruled out for the rest of the season has created huge problems for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Al-Hilal head coach Jorge Jesus has confirmed that he wants Mohamed Salah at the club next season. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly 'serious contenders' to sign Bayern Munich forward Leroy Sane this summer. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers have reportedly identified Hertha Berlin youngster Ibrahim Maza as a potential summer transfer target. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United could reportedly battle the likes of Real Madrid, Chelsea and Liverpool for the signature of RB Leipzig defender Castello Lukeba during this summer's transfer window. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Fresh off yet another controversy, Turkish Super Lig's bottom side Adana Demirspor will host Antalyaspor at the New Adana Stadium on Friday to kick off round 24. 12 February 2025 talksport.com Cristiano Ronaldo's dream of scoring 1000 career goals has been given a big boost. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk David Moyes should be the manager that leads Everton into the move from Goodison Park to their new state-of-the-art home on Bramley-Moore Dock next season, former Toffees' midfielder Kevin Kilbane has exclusively told Sports Mole.