Preview: Celta Vigo vs. Almeria - prediction, team news, lineups

The visitors, who have drawn their last three league games, sit bottom of the table, boasting nine points from 26 matches, while Celta are 17th, just three points outside of the relegation zone.

Match preview

Celta led by two goals against 18th-placed Cadiz last time out, with Rafael Benitez's side on course for what would have been a huge three points in the relegation battle this season.

However, Cadiz found two goals in the final 25 minutes, with Juanmi making it 2-1 before Darwin Machis levelled in the 10th minute of added time at the end of the 90, as Celta missed the chance to open up a six-point gap on the bottom three.

The Sky Blues have struggled this season, boasting a record of four wins, nine draws and 13 defeats from their 26 matches to collect 21 points, which has left them three points ahead of 18th-placed Cadiz, and they have only picked up one point from their last three games in Spain's top flight.

Celta, who have not played outside of La Liga since the 2011-12 campaign, travel to Real Madrid in their next game after this one, demonstrating the importance of picking up a positive result here.

The Vigo outfit have the third-worst home record in Spain's top flight this season, only picking up 10 points from 13 matches, finding the back of the net on just nine occasions.

Almeria, meanwhile, will bring a three-game unbeaten run into this match, having shared the points with Athletic Bilbao, Granada and Atletico Madrid since their last loss at Valencia on February 3.

The league's basement side twice trailed to Atletico last time out, but they answered back on both occasions through Luka Romero, who joined the club on loan from AC Milan during the January market.

La Union have a record of zero wins, nine draws and 17 defeats from their 26 league matches this season, which has left them bottom of the table on nine points, 12 points behind 17th-placed Celta.

Gaizka Garitano's side will need to pull off something seriously special if they are to stay in the division, but there has been a clear improvement in recent matches, and a victory on Friday evening would leave the supporters feeling that anything is possible in the closing months of the campaign.

UDA have the worst away record in the division this season, picking up just two points from 13 matches, while they suffered a 3-2 defeat when they took on Celta in the reverse match this term.

Celta Vigo La Liga form:

L

L

W

L

L

D

Celta Vigo form (all competitions):

L

L

W

L

L

D

Almeria La Liga form:

L

L

L

D

D

D

Team News

Celta will be without the services of Renato Tapia, Mihailo Ristic, Joseph Aidoo and Carlos Dotor through injury, while Williot Swedberg will need to undergo a late fitness test.

The Sky Blues will also definitely be missing experienced forward Iago Aspas, who picked up a milestone yellow card in the contest with Cadiz last time out.

Jailson is expected to replace Tapia in the middle of midfield, while Aspas's absence is likely to open the door for Anastasios Douvikas to feature alongside Jorgen Strand Larsen in the final third of the field.

As for Almeria, Aleksandar Radovanovic is out of the contest with a muscular problem, while Luis Suarez and Ibrahima Kone are doubts due to thigh and ankle issues respectively.

The visitors will also be missing Romero due to the ankle problem which he picked up after scoring twice in the clash with Atletico last time out.

Romero's absence will open the door for Sergio Arribas to feature in the XI, while Chumi is set to come into the defence as part of two changes from the side that took to the field for the first whistle against Atletico.

Celta Vigo possible starting lineup:

Guaita; Manquillo, Starfelt, U Nunez, M Sanchez; Allende, Jailson, Beltran, De la Torre; Larsen, Douvikas

Almeria possible starting lineup:

Maximiano; Pubill, Gonzalez, Chumi, Langa; Baba, Robertone; Arribas, Viera, Embarba; Lozano

We say: Celta Vigo 1-1 Almeria

Almeria are not losing games at the moment, but we are finding it difficult to back them to win considering their struggles in that department this season. Celta's home form has also been very disappointing this term, so we are backing a low-scoring draw in the relegation six-pointer on Friday night.

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