Celta Vigo will be aiming to get their European challenge back on track when they welcome Sevilla in La Liga on Saturday afternoon.
The home side are currently seventh in the La Liga table, two points ahead of eighth-placed Rayo Vallecano in the battle to qualify for the Europa League, while Sevilla are 16th, six points outside of the relegation zone with four games left.
Match preview
Celta have a record of 13 wins, seven draws and 14 defeats from their 34 league matches this season, with a total of 46 points leaving them in seventh spot in the table, two points ahead of eighth-placed Rayo Vallecano.
The Sky Blues will enter this match off the back of a 3-2 defeat at Real Madrid, and they have actually lost three of their last four in the league, also going down to Barcelona and Espanyol during a tough run of matches.
Celta have not played European football since competing in the 2016-17 Europa League, when they famously reached the semi-finals before losing to Manchester United, but they are on course to secure a return to Europe for 2025-26.
As it stands, Claudio Giraldez's side are in a Europa League spot, but they are only two points ahead of both ninth-placed Osasuna and 10th-placed Mallorca, so the picture could change quickly at a vital stage of the season.
Celta have been excellent at home this season, winning 10 of their 17 matches, collecting 33 points, and they will be welcoming a Sevilla side that have lost eight of their 17 away league games during the 2024-25 campaign.
Sevilla finished 14th in La Liga last season, which was their worst campaign since being relegated to the second tier back in 2000, but they are facing an even lower position this time around.
Los Nervionenses are currently 16th in the table, boasting a record of nine wins, 11 draws and 14 defeats from 34 matches to collect 38 points, which has left them just six points clear of the relegation zone.
Joaquin Caparros's side are not out of the relegation picture, and their form is worrying, failing to triumph since March 9, and they were held to a 2-2 draw by fellow strugglers Leganes on home soil last time out.
Sevilla will face 18th-placed Las Palmas on May 13 and will then finish the season with matches against Real Madrid and Villarreal, so it is not difficult to imagine them being pulled into trouble, and a relegation for the club would be incredibly damaging.
The Seville outfit recorded a 1-0 victory over Celta in the reverse match between the two sides earlier this season, but their last meeting in Vigo ended in a 1-1 draw in November 2023.
Team News
Celta will again be without the services of Carl Starfelt due to a hamstring problem, while Jones El-Abdellaoui needs to be assessed, as the 19-year-old is currently dealing with a thigh issue.
Head coach Giraldez could make two changes to the side that started against Real Madrid last time out, with Ilaix Moriba on course to return in midfield, while Williot Swedberg may be introduced in an attacking area.
Iago Aspas and Pablo Duran are also pushing for starts, with Celta spolit for choice in the final third of the field, but the pair are again expected to be among the substitutes for the first whistle.
As for Sevilla, Jose Angel Carmona will miss out on Saturday through suspension, with the defender receiving a milestone yellow card in the draw with Leganes last time out.
Akor Adams, Tanguy Nianzou and Ruben Vargas need late fitness tests, with all three dealing with muscular problems, while Albert Sambi Lokonga is also a fitness doubt this weekend.
Juanlu Sanchez is likely to be introduced into the XI as the replacement for Carmona, while Isaac Romero's goal off the bench last time out could also earn him a position in the starting side.
Celta Vigo possible starting lineup:
Guaita; J Rodriguez, Lago, Alonso; Carreira, Moriba, Sotelo, Mingueza; F Lopez, Iglesias, Swedberg
Sevilla possible starting lineup:
Nyland; Sanchez, Bade, Salas, Pedrosa; Agoume, Gudelj; Suso, Fernandez, Lukebakio; Romero
We say: Celta Vigo 2-1 Sevilla
Celta need to bounce back this weekend in order to boost their European hopes, and they will be confident of overcoming a struggling Sevilla; we are expecting a tight match in terms of the scoreline, but the hosts should be able to navigate their way to all three points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
body check tags ::
Previews by email
