Celta Vigo vs Athletic Bilbao predictions, H2H and match preview for this Sunday’s game in La Liga. Read on for analysis and predicted line-ups as the Galicians aim to kick some life into their season after a sluggish start.
Celta Vigo vs Athletic Bilbao Preview
Celta Vigo head into the weekend in 17th, exactly the same position as where they finished last season. That’s a considerable disappoint following an exciting summer where they brought several former players back to apparently add real quality to their side. It hasn’t quite clicked so far and the pressure will really be on Fran Escriba if they fail to collect anything from this game with an Athletic side who suffered their first defeat last weekend.
It is a bit of a mystery as to why Celta haven’t been better. On the surface they are stronger in most areas of the pitch now but they’ve taken just 2 points from 4 games heading into this including damaging defeats against Eibar and Granada while they needed a late goal just to salvage a home draw against lowly Espanyol. Their regular talisman Iago Aspas is yet to net despite having scored over 60 times across the last three seasons so all is clearly not quite right in the Celta camp.
Athletic’s long unbeaten home run of almost a year in La Liga came to an end last time out against Valencia. So far on the road, they’ve drawn all three away matches in the 2019/20 season but they do generally enjoy their trips to this ground. Athletic will have to contend without Yuri Berchiche after the left-back picked up an injury against Los Che but otherwise we are unlikely to see many changes from the visitors.
Gaizka Garitano is doing a terrific job with Athletic but their ability to make a genuine push for Europe may depend on whether they are capable of winning a few more games on the road. This is certainly an opportunity for them to do that but Celta will be desperate for a victory that would ensure they aren’t in the relegation zone heading into the international break.
Read more – LLE on the Road in Bilbao
Celta Vigo vs Athletic Bilbao Predictions
Score Prediction: 2-1 Athletic
Fran Escriba’s Celta don’t really convince and there’s every chance this will be his final game in charge at Balaidos with Celta quite prone to a coaching switch having twice wielded the axe last season. Athletic may not be brilliant travellers but they look like a side which is much clearer in what they are trying to do and they can only take confidence from having won on 5 of their last 6 trips to Vigo. The visitors may just edge this again.
Celta Vigo vs Athletic Club H2H
- Last 6 meetings: 4 Athletic Wins, 1 Celta Win, 1 Draw.
- Athletic did the double over Celta last term including a 2-1 win at Balaidos.
- Athletic have a terrific recent record on this ground, winning on 5 of their last 6 visits.
- Both teams have scored in 5 of the last 6 clashes.
Next up in La Liga: Real Valladolid vs Atletico Madrid predictions & preview
Predicted Line Ups
Celta Vigo Team:
Blanco – Mallo, Aidoo, Araujo, Olaza – Rafinha, Lobotka, Yokuslu, Suarez – Mina, Aspas (4-4-2)
Athletic Club Team:
Simon – Balenziaga, Yeray, Martinez, Capa – Garcia, Lopez – Muniain, Garcia, Larrazabal – Williams (4-2-3-1)
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