Sevilla will be bidding to return to winning ways in La Liga when they welcome Celta Vigo to Estadio Ramon on Saturday evening.

The home side, who are in a title race with Real Madrid, will enter the contest off the back of a 1-1 draw with Valencia, while Celta recorded a 2-0 victory over Osasuna in their last match.

Match preview

Sevilla have been excellent in La Liga this season, winning 13, drawing six and losing two of their 21 matches to collect 45 points, which has left them second in the table, just four points behind leaders Real Madrid.

Julen Lopetegui's side are also crucially 12 points clear of fifth-placed Real Sociedad, and it will be fascinating to see whether they can stay within touching distance of Real Madrid in the coming weeks.

Sevilla are unbeaten in their last seven league matches, winning two of their last three, but they were held to a 1-1 draw by Valencia on Wednesday, with Goncalo Guedes cancelling out an early own goal from Mouctar Diakhaby at Mestalla.

Los Nervionenses were knocked out of the Copa del Rey at the weekend, though, suffering a 2-1 defeat to rivals Real Betis, with the match being restarted on Sunday following crowd trouble.

Sevilla have only won La Liga on one previous occasion, back in 1946, but they are in the title argument at this stage and much of their success has been built on a strong defence, having conceded just 14 league goals in their 21 matches.

Celta, meanwhile, will enter the contest off the back of a 2-0 victory over Osasuna on Wednesday, with Hugo Mallo and Santi Mina scoring the goals in Vigo.

The Sky Blues have won seven, drawn five and lost nine of their 21 league matches this season to collect 26 points, which has left them in 12th position in the table, just three points off eighth-placed Villarreal.

Celta's recent league form has been impressive, winning three of their last four, overcoming Espanyol, Real Betis and Osasuna, with their only defeat since December 5 coming away to Real Sociedad on January 8.

Eduardo Coudet's side, who finished eighth in La Liga last season, have struggled for results in front of their own supporters this season, picking up just 11 points from their 11 home matches.

However, Celta have impressed on their travels, collecting 15 points from 10 games, which is the fourth-best away record in the division behind Real Madrid, Sevilla and Real Betis.

Team News

Sevilla will again be missing Jesus Navas, Erik Lamela, Suso, Jules Kounde and Thomas Delaney through injury, while Ludwig Augustinsson remains a doubt following a positive COVID-19 test.

The hosts are also without Yassine Bounou, Youssef En-Nesyri and Munir El Haddadi due to their involvement for Morocco at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Joan Jordan could come into the starting XI following the draw with Valencia, but the same front three are expected to take to the field, with Lucas Ocampos and Rafa Mir being joined by Alejandro Gomez.

Celta, meanwhile, are in good shape heading into this weekend's contest, and there are not expected to be any real surprises in their starting XI.

Iago Aspas and Santi Mina will again feature as the front two, while Denis Suarez and Brais Mendez should keep their spots in midfield despite pressure from Renato Tapia and Nolito.

Aspas and Mina have netted 17 La Liga goals between them this season, and the latter was on the scoresheet in the two-goal success over Osasuna on Wednesday night.

Sevilla possible starting lineup:
Diaz; Montiel, Carlos, Rekik, Acuna; Jordan, Fernando, Rakitic; Ocampos, Mir, Gomez

Celta Vigo possible starting lineup:
Dituro; Mallo, Aidoo, Araujo, Galan; Mendez, Beltran, D Suarez, Cervi; Mina, Aspas

We say: Sevilla 2-1 Celta Vigo

This is a really tough test for Sevilla, particularly considering Celta's away form during the 2021-22 campaign. Lopetegui's side need to win to stay in touch with Real Madrid, though, and we are backing the home team to secure all three points courtesy of a narrow success.

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