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

After losing in Saturday's league meeting, the hosts will be looking for revenge when they face the Basque side in the quarter-final of the Copa del Rey.

Match preview

Celta are competing in the last eight of the Copa del Rey for the first time since the 2016-17 season after they recorded a 3-1 victory over Rafael Benitez's former side, Valencia.

As a result of last week's successful trip to Mestalla, the Galician side went into the weekend off the back of a four-game unbeaten run in all competitions, but that promising spell of form was ultimately brought to a halt by a narrow 1-0 defeat to Real Sociedad.

After falling to their 10th league defeat of the season, Os Celestes remain languishing in 16th place and two points above the bottom three in La Liga.

While their main priority will be to extend their 12-year stay in the top flight, Celta will also be dreaming about the possibility of winning the Copa del Rey for the very first time after finishing as runners-up on three occasions - most recently in 2000-01 when they lost in the final to Real Zaragoza.

However, before they start looking too far ahead, Celta must get the better of Real Sociedad for the first time since June 2020, having failed to win any of their eight meetings against Tuesday's opponents (W6, D2).

Real Sociedad are preparing for another road trip after playing their last four matches away from home since drawing with fellow Basque side Alaves at the Reale Arena in their first outing of 2024.

Imanol Alguacil's side began their run of away games with a cup win over Malaga and a derby defeat to Athletic Bilbao, before they claimed a 2-0 victory over Osasuna in last week's last-16 tie.

They went on to claim a third clean sheet in four competitive matches in Saturday's fixture, as former Celta man Brais Mendez scored the decisive goal against his former club to guide Real Sociedad to a narrow 1-0 victory, ensuring his current side rounded off the weekend in sixth place and six points adrift of the top four.

The 2019-20 Copa del Rey winners will now turn their attention to a third consecutive quarter-final, having fallen at this stage in the last two seasons to Barcelona and Real Betis.

Although their recent record in the last eight may not inspire optimism, Real Sociedad have enjoyed their recent trips to Balaidos, having won each of their previous five competitive away meetings with Celta, keeping clean sheets in three of those victories.

Celta Vigo Copa del Rey form:

W

W

W

W

Celta Vigo form (all competitions):

L

W

W

D

W

L

Real Sociedad Copa del Rey form:

W

W

W

W

Real Sociedad form (all competitions):

D

D

W

L

W

W

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Team News

Celta remain without the services of defender Joseph Aidoo and winger Franco Cervi due to injury, while Jonathan Bamba is currently representing the Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Javier Manquillo has recently arrived from Newcastle United on a permanent deal, but Benitez has confirmed that the full-back will not be available for Tuesday's cup tie.

Greece international Anastasios Douvikas is expected to feature in the forward line, having scored two goals in each of the club's last three Copa del Rey matches.

As for the visitors, left-back Aihen Munoz is set for a significant spell on the sidelines after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury in Saturday's league trip to Balaidos.

Munoz is joined on the sidelines by Alvaro Odriozola, Martin Zubimendi, Martin Merquelanz, Ander Barrenetxea and Carlos Fernandez, while Take Kubo and Hamed Traore are away on international duty.

After dropping to the bench at the weekend, Aritz Elustondo, Kieran Tierney, Mikel Merino, Arsen Zakharyan and Mikel Oyarzbal could all return to the starting lineup for the quarter-final clash.

Celta Vigo possible starting lineup:

Guaita; Mingueza, Starfelt, Dominguez, Ristic; Perez, Dotor, Tapia, De la Torre; Douvikas, Strand Larsen

Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:

Remiro; Elustondo, Zubeldia, Le Normand, Tierney; Turrientes, Merino, Mendez; Zakharyan, Oyarzabal, Silva

We say: Celta Vigo 1-2 Real Sociedad

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