Real Madrid and Celta Vigo will both be hoping to extend their six-game unbeaten streaks when they clash in the Spanish capital on Saturday night.
Los Blancos currently sit second in La Liga – two points behind Atletico Madrid, although their rivals have two games in hand.
🏁 FT: @Elchecf_en 1-1 @realmadriden ⚽ Fidel (p) 52'; @lukamodric10 20'#Emirates | #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/bKss9058Cy— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) December 30, 2020
🏁 FT: @Elchecf_en 1-1 @realmadriden ⚽ Fidel (p) 52'; @lukamodric10 20'#Emirates | #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/bKss9058Cy
Meanwhile, a series of positive results has seen Celta Vigo climb to eighth in the table – ten points behind Real Madrid.
Zinedine Zidane’s side had won each of their last five league matches leading up to their meeting with Elche on Wednesday.
Sevilla, Atletico, Athletic Bilbao, Eibar and Granada had all fallen to Madrid in December, yet Elche managed to hold the defending champions to a 1-1 draw.
Despite enjoying 68% possession and registering 14 shots last time out, Luka Modric’s first-half strike was ultimately cancelled out by a Fidel Chaves penalty.
Still, following a sticky three-game winless run – two defeats, one draw – in November, Zidane will be pleased that his side have turned things around.
On the topic of turning things around, let’s talk about Celta Vigo. The Sky Blues only managed to win one of their opening ten La Liga games this term.
However, Eduardo Coudet’s men have now won five of their previous six outings and managed to draw the other game in that sequence.
Celta have seen off Granada, Athletic Bilbao, Cadiz, Alaves and Huesca in recent weeks, keeping three clean sheets along the way.
The only draw in their last six matches came just before Christmas against Getafe, although it’s fair to say that Celta could have easily won that game.
Iago Aspas has bagged nine goals and six assists in 16 La Liga appearances this term, with six goals and six assists coming is his previous nine outings.
Head-to-head: Celta managed to hold Real Madrid to a 2-2 draw when the two sides last met back in February 2020.
Having said that, Los Blancos had claimed four straight victories over Celta before that, scoring over 2.5 goals on three occasions during that period.
Team news: Following a string of injuries to a number of key players, Brazilian winger Rodrygo is Real Madrid’s only injury doubt for Saturday’s match.
Celta Vigo are also looking relatively injury free, with long-term absentee Sergio Alvarez the only notable player sidelined for the Sky Blues.
Celta are enjoying an impressive resurgent run at the moment, but there is no denying that Real Madrid should win this game.
Coudet’s side are likely to push Los Blancos all the way on Saturday, yet Forebet predicts that Real Madrid will edge this one.