Preview: Celta Vigo vs. Athletic Bilbao - prediction, team

Athletic Bilbao will make the short trip to Galicia this weekend for their mid-table tussle with 8th-placed Celta Vigo at the Estadio Municipal de Balaidos.

Tied on 33 points, a win for either of these sides would thrust them into the upper reaches of La Liga, where the hunt for European football is hotting up.

Match preview

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Comfortably nestled away in 10th place and looking forward to two Copa del Rey finals in the coming weeks, life thus far under Marcelino has been a roaring success.

However, Athletic is one of La Liga's most historic outfits and their fans always want the best from their cherished club.

Against Atletico Madrid last time out in the league, Athletic gave their metropolitan opposition a good run for their money after Iker Muniain bagged the opening goal in the 21st minute. Diego Simeone 's men eventually clawed their way back into the game, winning the tie 2:1.

Despite the loss, Athletic gave a good go of it and things are certainly looking up for the Basque side. Athletic have scored in each of their 16 games under Marcelino in all competitions (29).

The good news for Athletic this weekend is that they have won on six of their 11 La Liga visits to Celta Vigo. Marcelino will hope to grab another three points on Sunday.

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Celta Vigo have managed to avoid defeat in their last three top-flight encounters against Athletic and boss Eduardo Coudet will hope his side can continue that run this weekend.

Despite blowing hot and cold this season, Celta have gone from strength to strength in the league in recent months and now find themselves looking up the table. However, Coudet's men have struggled to break into the league's highest reaches.

Last weekend, Celta were involved in one of the games of the season as their seemingly straightforward trip to Huesca ended as a seven-goal thriller, with Celta winning the tie 4:3.

Celta forward Santi Mina opened the scoring for his side against Huesca, his fourth in his last five La Liga games. The striker has now equalled his goalscoring tally from last season.

Celta cult hero Iago Aspas, who has not been among the goals in recent weeks, is the joint top-assister in the league season (8) alongside Marcos Llorente. One more assist would make it the striker's best tally in a single La Liga campaign.

Celta Vigo La Liga form:

D

D

W

L

D

W

Athletic Bilbao La Liga form:

D

W

D

D

W

L

Athletic Bilbao form (all competitions):

W

D

D

W

W

L

Team News

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With no injury concerns to contend with, the only absentee that Marcelino has is Inigo Martinez, who is suspended for this tie.

Marcelino has settled on a starting 11 and it is unlikely that there will be any changes to the side for this tie.

Defender Hugo Mallo is suspended for Celta this weekend after the full-back picked up another yellow card against Huesca.

Other absentees include Ruben Blanco, Emre Mor and Sergio Alvarez, who are all nursing injuries ahead of this fixture.

Ivan Villar will likely replace Blanco between the sticks, while Mexican defender Nestor Araujo could deputise for Mallo.

Celta Vigo possible starting lineup:

Villar; Araujo, Aidoo, Murillo, Caricol; Mendez, Beltran, Suarez, Nolito; Mina, Aspas

Athletic Bilbao possible starting lineup:

Simon; de Marcos, Nunez, Alvarez, Berchiche; Alex Berenguer, Lopez, Vesga, Muniain; Williams, Garcia

We say: Celta Vigo 2-2 Athletic Bilbao

These are two fairly equally matched sides and Athletic definitely have a penchant for a draw. Celta play with a certain unpredictably that borders on chaos, so expect goals, but maybe not a decisive outcome.

Top tip

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