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

Valencia will be looking to make it back-to-back wins at the start of their 2020-21 La Liga campaign when they travel to Celta Vigo on Saturday night.

Los Che opened their new season with a 4-2 victory over Levante on September 13, while Celta shared the points in a goalless draw with Eibar in the campaign's opener on September 12.

Match preview

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Celta only just survived in the top flight during the 2019-20 campaign, ultimately finishing the season in 17th position, just one point clear of Leganes, who were relegated in 18th.

The Sky Blues could be in for another difficult season as it does appear that they will be heavily reliant on Iago Aspas for goals, particularly if they cannot sign another forward before the transfer window closes.

Aspas has scored 102 goals in 193 outings since returning to the club in 2015, but Rafinha and Fedor Smolov have both returned to their respective parent sides and are no longer part of the squad.

Oscar Garcia 's side, who only won seven of their 38 league matches last term, opened their 2020-21 campaign with a goalless draw against Eibar on Saturday afternoon.

Celta will be keen to put three points on the board as soon as possible, but they have not won in their last eight league matches and struggled for invention in their season opener last weekend.

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Now under the management of former Watford boss Javi Gracia, Valencia started their 2020-21 La Liga campaign with a 4-2 victory over Levante last weekend.

Los Che twice fell behind at the Mestalla but Maxi Gomez levelled the scores in the 39th minute before Manu Vallejo came off the bench to net a brace in the final 15 minutes.

After back-to-back fourth-place finishes, Valencia ended last season in ninth, and it would be fair to say that it has been a busy transfer window for the club in terms of outgoings, with Rodrigo Moreno, Ferran Torres, Francis Coquelin and Dani Parejo amongst those to move on.

The former Spanish champions could lose more key players before the transfer window closes, but Gracia still has a very talented squad to work with, and he will be eyeing another three points this weekend.

Celta Vigo La Liga form: D

Valencia La Liga form: W

Team News

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Sergio Alvarez and Ruben Blanco remain on the sidelines through injury for Celta, meaning that the inexperienced Ivan Villar will continue the sticks.

Renato Tapia, who has arrived from Feyenoord, made his debut against Eibar and should retain his spot in midfield, while Brais Mendez is also likely to keep his starting position.

There could be a change in the final third of the field, though, with Santi Mina potentially replacing Emre Mor, which was a substitution that took place in the latter stages of the clash with Eibar.

As for Valencia, Vallejo's brace against Levante could see the Spaniard replace Lee Kang-in in the starting XI, while Carlos Soler is expected to feature, having not been involved last time out.

Former Arsenal youngster Yunus Musah started against Levante but could drop to the bench for this match, while Denis Cheryshev is pushing for a spot in the starting XI.

Geoffrey Kondogbia and Goncalo Guedes are also likely to retain their spots for the visitors, who suffered a 1-0 defeat when they travelled to Celta last season.

Celta Vigo possible starting lineup:

Villar; Mallo, Aidoo, Araujo, Olaza; Mendez, Yokuslu, Tapia; Mina, Aspas, Nolito

Valencia possible starting lineup:

Domenech; Wass, Gabriel, Mangala, Gaya; Soler, Kondogbia, Esquerdo, Guedes; Gomez, Vallejo

We say: Celta Vigo 1-2 Valencia

Valencia will view this match as another opportunity to put three points on the board, and we fancy the visitors to triumph this weekend. Aside from Aspas, it is difficult to see where the goals are coming from for Celta, who could struggle to make their mark against Los Che in this encounter.

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