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

Los Che suffered a 5-1 loss to Real Madrid at Bernabeu before the international break, while Celta were on the wrong end of a seven-goal thriller with Athletic Bilbao in their last game.

Match preview

Valencia brought a five-game unbeaten run into their clash with Real Madrid on November 11, but an excellent performance from Carlo Ancelotti's side saw them run out 5-1 winners in the Spanish capital, with Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo both scoring braces for the hosts.

Los Che boast a record of five wins, three draws and five losses from their 13 league matches this season, which has left them in ninth position in the table on 18 points.

Ruben Baraja's side will be pleased to be back at Mestalla this weekend, as they have won four times in the league in front of their own fans this term, including three of their last four.

Valencia had a disastrous 2022-23 campaign, finishing down in 16th position in the table, which proved to be their worst spot since being relegated at the end of 1985-86.

There have been signs of encouragement this season, though, and Los Che have also won each of their last five league matches against Celta, including a 3-0 victory in the corresponding match last season, with their last home loss to the Sky Blues in Spain's top flight coming back in March 2016.

Celta were on the verge of gaining what would have been a welcome point away to Athletic before the international break, with the two teams level at 3-3 heading into the final exchanges.

Athletic had other ideas, though, and a penalty from Alex Berenguer in the 98th minute handed the Lions a 4-3 success and made it eight defeats from 13 La Liga matches for Celta during a tough season.

Rafael Benitez's side have only managed to record one league win this term, which came at the start of September against the league's basement side Almeria.

The Sky Blues have lost three of their last four in Spain's top flight, and a total of seven points has left them in 18th position in the table heading into the next set of fixtures.

Celta have found it difficult to score regularly this season, only managing 14 in their 13 matches, and they have also been beaten in each of their last four league games away from their own supporters, which is an indication of the size of their task heading into Saturday's fixture.

Valencia La Liga form:

L

D

W

D

W

L

Valencia form (all competitions):

D

W

D

W

W

L

Celta Vigo La Liga form:

L

D

L

L

D

L

Celta Vigo form (all competitions):

D

L

L

W

D

L

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Team News

Valencia will be without the services of three players for this contest, with Selim Amallah, Andre Almeida and Alberto Mari on the sidelines through injury.

Head coach Baraja is expected to resist the temptation to make wholesale changes from the side that started against Real Madrid last time out.

However, there could be an introduction in a wide area for Dimitri Foulquier, with Sergi Canos likely to be the player to drop out for the hosts this weekend; Hugo Duro is the team's leading goalscorer in La Liga this term with six, and he will continue in the final third of the field.

As for Celta, Carl Starfelt is a doubt due to illness, while Hugo Sotelo and Joseph Aidoo will miss the match due to injury problems.

Renato Tapia, though, is available for selection, having served his suspension against Athletic, and there could be a spot for the 28-year-old in the middle of midfield.

Iago Aspas scored his first league goal of the season against Athletic, and he is set to be joined in the final third of the field by Jorgen Strand Larsen, who has netted four times in Spain's top flight this term.

Valencia possible starting lineup:

Mamardashvili; Correia, Mosquera, Paulista, Gaya; Pepelu, Guerra; Foulquier, D Lopez, Perez; Duro

Celta Vigo possible starting lineup:

Guaita; Vazquez, Starfelt, U Nunez, M Sanchez; Mingueza, Tapia, Dotor, Bamba; Larsen, Aspas

We say: Valencia 1-0 Celta Vigo

Celta are a difficult team to back at the moment, especially away from home, and we are struggling to predict a positive result for Benitez's side here. Valencia will be aiming to bounce back from their disappointing performance at Real Madrid, and the hosts should have enough quality to triumph.

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