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

Los Blancos are currently top of the table on six points, having beaten Athletic Bilbao and Almeria this term, while Celta sit 16th, boasting just one point from their first two games of the season.

Match preview

Celta started their league season with a 2-0 defeat at home to Osasuna on August 13, and they were incredibly close to suffering a second straight loss against Real Sociedad last weekend.

Indeed, Ander Barrenetxea netted in the 22nd minute of the contest to send the hosts ahead, and it was 1-0 until the fourth minute of added time at the end of the 90, when Oscar Mingueza came up with a leveller.

The result gave new head coach Rafael Benitez his first point at the helm, and the 63-year-old will now manage against the club that he was in charge of between June 2015 and January 2016.

Celta have been present in Spain's top flight for the last 12 seasons, but they have only finished in the top half once since the 2015-16 campaign, so there is clear room for improvement.

The Sky Blues have managed to make five signings during this summer's transfer window, with Carles Perez, Carl Starfelt, Carlos Dotor, Jonathan Bamba and Manu Sanchez arriving to boost the squad.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, sit top of the pile after two games, opening their campaign with a 2-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao on August 12 before beating Almeria 3-1 last weekend.

Jude Bellingham has been the star of the show thus far, scoring three times in his first two appearances, with the 20-year-old looking very much at home in the famous strip.

Real Madrid's first home game of the season will be against Getafe on September 2, so it would make their start even more impressive if they could overcome Celta on Friday evening.

Los Blancos are bidding to regain the La Liga title this term, having lost out to Barcelona last season, and it will be fascinating to see what the team can achieve in this new 4-3-1-2 formation, which sees Bellingham operate as the advanced midfielder behind Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo.

Real Madrid have actually won their last six league games against Celta, including a 4-1 victory in the reverse match last season, while they have not lost to the Sky Blues in La Liga since May 2014.

There remains speculation surrounding a possible move for Kylian Mbappe late in the transfer window, but the club continue to insist that their business for the summer is complete.

Celta Vigo La Liga form:

Real Madrid La Liga form:

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Team News

Celta were without Goncalo Paciencia and Carles Perez against Real Sociedad due to muscular problems and that will again be the case for Friday's clash with Real Madrid.

Head coach Benitez will have been pleased with his team's performance last time out, so it would not be a surprise to see the same XI take to the field for this match.

Dotor and Franco Cervi are perhaps the two players pushing hardest to be brought into the side, but it might be a case of same again, with Jorgen Strand Larsen set to get the nod alongside Iago Aspas in attack.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, will again be missing Dani Ceballos, Ferland Mendy, Eder Militao, Thibaut Courtois and Arda Guler for their third match of the season.

Kepa Arrizabalaga was an unused substitute against Almeria last time out following his arrival on loan from Chelsea, but the Spaniard is expected to be brought into the side for this match.

Ancelotti is also likely to recall Eduardo Camavinga, who did not start against Almeria due to muscular overload, with Toni Kroos likely to be the player to drop down to the bench.

Luka Modric will have to accept a reduced role this term, with the Croatian set to be among the substitutes once again, and Camavinga for Kroos is expected to be the only outfield change for this contest.

Celta Vigo possible starting lineup:

Villar; Mingueza, Starfelt, Nunez, Sanchez; De la Torre, Beltran, Sotelo, Bamba; Larsen, Aspas

Real Madrid possible starting lineup:

Kepa; Carvajal, Rudiger, Alaba, Garcia; Valverde, Tchouameni, Camavinga; Bellingham; Rodrygo, Vinicius

We say: Celta Vigo 0-2 Real Madrid

Celta are capable of making this an uncomfortable match for Real Madrid, but we are finding it difficult to back against a win for the capital giants. Bellingham has been outstanding in his first two games for the club, and we are expecting him to be heavily involved in another win for Ancelotti's side.

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