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

Celta Vigo will be looking to extend their unbeaten run in La Liga to six matches when they resume their 2019-20 campaign at home to Villarreal on Saturday afternoon.

The Sky Blues are currently just above the relegation zone in 17th spot but will enter this match in better form than a Villarreal side that occupy eighth position in the table.

Match preview

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Celta only just survived in Spain's top flight last season, finishing 17th in the table, and it would be fair to say that the team are involved in another battle to remain at this level of football.

Indeed, Celestes have only picked up 26 points from their 27 league matches this season, leaving them 17th, just one point clear of the relegation zone as the campaign prepares to resume.

Oscar Garcia 's side were in solid form before the lockdown period, though, embarking on a five-game unbeaten run which included victories over Sevilla and Leganes.

Celta also drew 0-0 with both Granada and Getafe before the season was postponed and have two huge matches to come after this one, facing Real Valladolid and Alaves in quick succession.

Goals have been a problem for Garcia's team this term - managing just 22 in 27 matches - but Iago Aspas has enjoyed another productive campaign, netting nine in Spain's top flight.

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Villarreal, meanwhile, currently sit eighth in the table, four points behind seventh-placed Valencia and seven behind sixth-placed Atletico Madrid heading into Saturday's contest.

The Yellow Submarine did not finish outside of the top six in La Liga between 2013 and 2018 but ended last season in 14th, and it remains to be seen whether they can claim a European spot this term.

Javi Calleja 's side have won 11 of their 27 league games - the same number as Atletico - but they have also lost 11 times, including their last three against Atletico, Athletic Bilbao and Leganes.

Villarreal have actually only one of their last five in Spain's top flight but a strong run between December 15 and February 2, where they won five of their six matches, has left them in a decent position in the table.

Celta La Liga form: LWDWDD

Villarreal La Liga form: LDWLLL

Team News

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Celta will be unable to call upon goalkeeper Sergio Alvarez due to a knee injury, but Garcia's squad is otherwise in good shape ahead of their return to action.

Aspas was unavailable to face Getafe last time out through suspension, but the experienced attacker is back for this game, while Denis Suarez is also in contention to start.

There are unlikely to be many surprises in the XI, meaning that Aspas should again join Rafinha and Fedor Smolov in a forward position, although Pione Sisto and Santi Mina are also viable options.

As for Villarreal, Ruben Pena is suspended due to the yellow card that he picked up against Leganes last time out, while Bruno Soriano and Ramiro Funes Mori are still on the treatment table.

Samuel Chukwueze was named on the bench against Leganes but should start this one, potentially joining Paco Alcacer and Gerard Moreno as part of a front three.

Javi Ontiveros is another option, but Santi Cazorla and Vicente Iborra should both keep their spots.

Celta possible starting lineup:

Blanco; Aidoo, Murillo, Araujo; Mallo, Bradaric, Yokuslu, Olaza; Rafinha, Smolov, Aspas

Villarreal possible starting lineup:

Asenjo; Gaspar, Albiol, Torres, Moreno; Cazorla, Iborra, Trigueros; Chukwueze, Alcacer, Moreno

We say: Celta Vigo 1-2 Villarreal

Celta had been in better form than Villarreal before the lockdown period, but it is difficult to know how both teams are going to adapt to the circumstances surrounding the return of competitive action. On paper, Villarreal have the superior side, and we fancy the away team's extra quality to prevail in this game.