Burkina Faso
Croatia
Czech Republic
Indonesia
International Tournaments
Nigeria
Republic OF Ireland
South Africa

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

sportsmole.co.uk, 10 September 2020, 10:15

The opening match of the 2020-21 La Liga campaign will take place at Estadio Municipal de Ipurua on Saturday afternoon with Eibar welcoming Celta Vigo.

Eibar finished 14th in Spain's top flight last term, while Celta ended the season in 17th, only just surviving in the league as they claimed one more point than Leganes in 18th.

Match preview

© Reuters

Having claimed 10th, ninth and 12th in Spain's top flight between 2017 and 2019, there is no question that last season's 14th-place finish in La Liga was disappointing for Eibar.

Another campaign at this level of football was the priority, though, and they ultimately ended the season six points clear of the relegation zone, which was occupied by Leganes, Mallorca and Espanyol.

Eibar ended their 2019-20 season with a 4-0 defeat at Villarreal, but they have played four friendlies since then, beating Rayo Vallecano, drawing with Osasuna and Athletic Bilbao and losing to Leganes.

Damian Kadzior and Recio have both arrived this summer to boost the squad, but a number of players, including Fabian Orellana, Charles, Gonzalo Escalante and Pablo de Blasis, have moved on.

© Reuters

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

The Sky Blues only won seven of their 38 league matches last term, drawing a league-high 16 matches as they struggled to put together a run of consistency which would have moved them up the table.

Celta have boosted their squad with the arrivals of Miguel Baeza, Renato Tapia and Alvaro Vadillo this summer, while the likes of Pione Sisto and Robert Mazan have moved on.

Oscar Garcia 's side have also lost Rafinha and Fedor Smolov, with the pair heading back to Barcelona and Lokomotiv Moscow respectively after loan spells at the Balaidos last term.

It does appear that the team will again be heavily reliant on Iago Aspas when it comes to goals, and the 33-year-old has now struck an impressive 102 times in 193 appearances since returning in 2015.

Eibar pre-season form: WLDD

Celta Vigo pre-season form: DWD

Team News

© Reuters

Eibar could be without the services of Cote due to the knee problem that the defender picked up towards the end of last season, meaning that Rober Correa is likely to feature at left-back.

Sergi Enrich and Kike Garcia could be given the nod to start as the front two in a 4-4-2 formation, with Sergio Leon and Takashi Inui operating in the wide areas.

Paulo Oliveira was an unused substitute in Eibar's final league match of last season, but the Portuguese is expected to return to the starting XI on the opening weekend of the new campaign.

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

Tapia, who has arrived from Feyenoord, could be handed a starting role in the middle of the park, while Nolito and Edgar Mendez are likely to support Aspas in a forward position.

There could also be a start for 23-year-old Turkey international Emre Cor, who is back with the Spanish club after loan spells with Galatasaray and Olympiacos.

Eibar possible starting lineup:

Dmitrovic; Correa, Oliveira, Bigas, Soares; Leon, Diop, Exposito, Inui; Garcia, Enrich

Celta Vigo possible starting lineup:

Villar; Mallo, Aidoo, Araujo, Olaza; Tapia, Beltran; Mor, Mendez, Nolito; Aspas

We say: Eibar 1-1 Celta Vigo

Both of these teams will be eyeing three points on the opening weekend, but we are struggling to separate them. Celta have actually only won two of their last 31 away La Liga matches, although we do fancy the visitors to pick up a share of the spoils on Saturday afternoon.

Show more

Top News

3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid are reportedly determined not to change plans in the final day of the January transfer market despite Antonio Rudiger suffering an injury. 3 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell has reportedly agreed a loan move to Crystal Palace and is set to undergo a medical ahead of a deadline day move. 2 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Mikel Arteta has claimed that he will not be answering calls related to transfer plans on Monday, hinting at a quiet deadline day for Arsenal. 2 February 2025 talksport.com Jordan Henderson was involved in a tense exchange with a journalist, who was probing about his reported Ajax row. 2 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk With a place in the semi-finals of the DFB-Pokal up for grabs on Tuesday, Stuttgart are set to host Augsburg at MHPArena. 2 February 2025 talksport.com Marcus Rashford has officially joined Aston Villa on loan until the end of the season. 2 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Aston Villa have completed the loan signing of Marcus Rashford from Manchester United, with the forward moving to Villa Park for the second half of the 2024-25 campaign. 2 February 2025 talksport.com Myles Lewis-Skelly possesses such confidence, composure and fearlessness that the teenager will surely be a major player for Arsenal going forward. 2 February 2025 talksport.com Myles Lewis-Skelly announced himself on the biggest stage on Sunday evening during Arsenal's 5-1 win over Manchester City. 2 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has broken his silence on claims that the Lilywhites have agreed a loan deal for Chelsea defender Axel Disasi. 2 February 2025 talksport.com John Stones has issued an apology to Manchester City's fans, labelling the team's performance at Arsenal as 'unacceptable'. 2 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Hoping to become the first former Chelsea manager to beat the Blues in a Premier League game at Stamford Bridge, Graham Potter takes his West Ham United side to his old home on Monday night. 2 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United's negotiations with Bayern Munich over a loan deal for Mathys Tel have allegedly "collapsed". 2 February 2025 talksport.com Erling Haaland sent a cheeky reminder that this Arsenal team has won no title yet after the Gunners took Manchester City to the cleaners. 2 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea are reportedly contemplating whether to make a formal approach for a Manchester City academy graduate before Monday's transfer deadline. 2 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Inter Milan rescued a point against AC Milan as they drew 1-1 with their rivals at San Siro on Sunday afternoon, but they lost ground on Serie A leaders Napoli. 2 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal duo Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly combined for a slice of club history in the Gunners' 5-1 Premier League demolition of champions Manchester City at the Emirates. 2 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Southampton have reportedly agreed a deal with Strasbourg for Samuel Amo-Ameyaw to depart St Mary's Stadium. 2 February 2025 talksport.com Erling Haaland made history on an otherwise dire evening for Manchester City. 2 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Hale End heroes Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri both found the back of the net as Arsenal demolished a meek Manchester City 5-1 at the Emirates in the Premier League. 2 February 2025 talksport.com Arsenal star Gabriel appeared to get his own back on Erling Haaland before Myles Lewis-Skelly joined in on the act. 2 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Crystal Palace have reportedly joined Leicester City in the race for AC Milan centre-back Strahinja Pavlovic. 2 February 2025 talksport.com Oliver Glasner has revealed Crystal Palace targeted Manchester United's system in their win at Old Trafford. 2 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Everton have "reached an agreement" to sign Carlos Alcaraz on an initial loan deal from Flamengo. 2 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United's record of seven defeats from their 13 home Premier League matches this season is their joint-most at this stage of a league campaign in their entire history. 2 February 2025 talksport.com Jordan Henderson insists he's happy to stay at Ajax following his winter window transfer saga. 2 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Mathys Tel has reportedly signalled that he wants to join Manchester United, with the Red Devils pushing to sign the Bayern Munich forward before the January transfer window closes for business. 2 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has called the injury that Lisandro Martinez suffered against Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon "serious". 2 February 2025 talksport.com Harry Kane has outlined what Bayern Munich teammate Mathys Tel needs from his next club amid continued Premier League interest. 2 February 2025 talksport.com Lamine Yamal produced a stunning piece of dribbling during Barcelona's win over Alaves.
Wed 05 Feb, 17:45
QF
PSV PSV
-
sch
Feyenoord Feyenoord
Wed 05 Feb, 20:00
QF
AC Milan AC Milan
-
sch
Roma Roma
Something went wrong! Don't hesitate to let us know if you need any help.