Athletic Club vs Celta Vigo predictions and match preview for Saturday’s LaLiga fixture. Read on for analysis, team news and predicted lineups as two out of form teams meet.
| Date | Saturday 20th May 2023 |
| Kick-Off | 16:15 (CEST) |
| Stadium | San Mames |
| Competition | LaLiga |
Athletic Club vs Celta Vigo Preview
San Mames is the setting for Athletic Club’s clash with Celta Vigo this weekend. Both sides have endured a really poor run of form of late with neither looking convincing, but there is pressure on the two coaches to get a result here.
Ernesto Valverde’s first season back in Bilbao will most likely go down as a bit of a disappointment if they don’t go on to clinch European qualification. They were very well placed to do that earlier in the season but the goals have dried up a fair bit with Athletic often having the better of matches, but failing to kill their opponents off.
While they are usually strong in Bilbao, even their home form has tailed off. Their last two outings at San Mames have ended in 1-0 defeats against the two Seville clubs. Meanwhile they were awful last weekend, going down 5-1 at Villarreal, although they were missing a number of defenders for the trip to the Ceramica. They still have some problems at centre-back here with Yeray and Inigo Martinez set to miss out and it’s the sort of game where they could probably have done with the services of Unai Nunez, an Athletic player on loan at Celta, who will line up for the visitors in central defence in this game.
His future will be the source of debate in the summer as he has done well at Balaidos and will probably be welcomed back in Bilbao, particularly with Martinez expected to leave. He’s formed a strong partnership with Joseph Aidoo who should return here after missing the damaging 2-1 defeat at home to Valencia last time out.
That leaves Celta in a bit of potential trouble again. With 39 points on the board, they probably only need one more win to be safe, but there isn’t much sign of that coming at the moment. As well as this game, they have to take on champions Barcelona and in-form Girona. Their trip to struggling Cadiz on matchday 37 could turn into a vital one if they don’t manage to put points on the board prior to that.
Team News & Possible Lineups
Athletic Club
| INJURED | Morcillo, |
| DOUBTFUL | Yeray, Inigo Martinez |
| BANNED |
Possible XI: Simon – Yuri, Paredes, Vivian, De Marcos – Dani Garcia, Vesga, – N. Williams, Sancet, I. Williams – Guruzeta (4-2-3-1)
Coach: Ernesto Valverde
Celta Vigo
| INJURED | Marchesin, Aspas |
| DOUBTFUL | Seferovic |
| BANNED | Tapia |
Possible XI: Villar – Galan, Aidoo, Nunez, Mallo – Beltran – De la Torre, Veiga, Perez – Seferovic, Larsen (4-1-3-2)
Coach: Carlos Carvalhal
Score Prediction: Athletic Club 1-0 Celta Vigo
These two teams are low on confidence and struggling for goals. Celta’s top two scorers Iago Aspas (injured this weekend) and Gabri Veiga are both without one since the last international break in March and they look a shadow of the side that excelled in the opening few months of 2023. This may be a good opportunity for Athletic to grind out what may not be a particularly pretty win.
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