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

Los Verdiblancos sit third in Spain's top flight having won five of their opening six league matches, while their hosts find themselves 13th after back-to-back defeats.

Match preview

After finishing 11th last season, Celta Vigo set out for a return to the top half of Spain's top flight this term, and they have experienced a mixed start, following up a defeat and a draw in the first two rounds of fixtures with back-to-back wins over Girona and Cadiz.

In their bid for a third straight three-point haul, Eduardo Coudet's side faced the unenviable task of a trip to Atletico Madrid, and they were comprehensively beaten, with Gabri Veiga's 71st-minute goal nothing more than a consolation in a 4-1 defeat.

Hoping to return to winning ways in their final game before the recent international break, Os Celestes travelled to take on Valencia, but they were on the wrong end of another heavy loss as Samu Castillejo, Marcos Andre and Andre Almeida all got on the scoresheet in a 3-0 home triumph.

As a result of that pair of defeats, Coudet's men have quickly fallen to 13th spot, but, given how tight the division is at this early stage, they remain within touching distance of the top eight and will aim to put a third league win of the campaign on the board on their return to action.

They face another tough test, though, as Real Betis make the trip on the back of a strong start to the season, having won five of their six league fixtures thus far.

Manuel Pellegrini's side kicked off their top-four bid with three straight wins before eventually succumbing to a narrow 2-1 defeat away at defending champions Real Madrid, and they have bounced back in impressive fashion both on the domestic front and at the beginning of their Europa League campaign.

After a 2-0 beating of HJK Helsinki in their first continental group-stage outing, Los Verdiblancos made a return to winning ways in La Liga with a 1-0 victory over Villarreal thanks to Rodri's goal and continued their perfect start in the Europa League with a hard-fought 3-2 triumph away at Ludogorets Razgrad.

Before the break, Pellegrini's men most recently hosted Girona, and they made it four victories on the bounce in all competitions as Borja Iglesias hit a brace to see them come from 1-0 down to take all three points, with the winner coming 19 minutes from time at the Estadio Benito Villamarin.

With that result strengthening their position in the leading pack, with only Real Madrid and Barcelona bettering their tally of 15 points thus far, Real Betis will aim to keep building momentum with a sixth La Liga win of the season on Sunday.

Celta Vigo La Liga form:

D

L

W

W

L

L

Real Betis La Liga form:

W

W

W

L

W

W

Real Betis form (all competitions):

W

L

W

W

W

W

Team News

Celta Vigo will remain without Denis Suarez on Sunday, while they will also be unable to call on winger Franco Cervi after he was sent off in their defeat to Valencia.

Striker Iago Aspas continues to play a crucial role at the age of 35 years old, having already hit the net five times in six La Liga games this season after putting up combined league tallies of 32 goals and 19 assists across the previous two campaigns.

Carles Perez could start in Cervi's absence on the wing in Coudet's preferred 4-1-3-2 setup, with Renato Tapia set to keep his place at the base of midfield.

Victor Camarasa remains unavailable for selection for Real Betis due to an injury, while key attacking men Juanmi and Nabil Fekir are also doubts.

Given those absences, Borja Iglesias will again be heavily relied upon to lead the line, having netted six league goals so far this term, meaning Willian Jose may again have to settle for a substitute appearance given Pellegrini tends to deploy a lone striker.

The front man will be supported by creative midfielder Sergio Canales, with Luiz Henrique and Rodri set to keep their spots on the flanks, while Guido Rodriguez and William Carvalho should operate at the base of midfield in front of centre-backs German Pezzella and Luiz Felipe.

Celta Vigo possible starting lineup:

Marchesin; Mallo, Aidoo, Nunez, Galan; Tapia; Rodriguez, Beltran, Perez; Aspas, Larsen

Real Betis possible starting lineup:

Silva; Montoya, Pezzella, Felipe, Moreno; Rodriguez, Carvalho; Rodri, Canales, Henrique; Iglesias

We say: Celta Vigo 0-2 Real Betis

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