We have a full round of fixtures to look forward to in the Spanish Liga this weekend, including the meeting between Celta Vigo and Villarreal at the Abanca-Balaídos.
The hosts begin the weekend in 8th place on 23 points while the visitors are in fourth place on 29 points.
📺 RESUMEN #CopaDelRey ⚽️ @ZCFoficial 1 🆚 4 @VillarrealCF #LaCopaMola🏆 pic.twitter.com/Ri1Vc5DRxw— RFEF (@rfef) January 5, 2021
📺 RESUMEN #CopaDelRey ⚽️ @ZCFoficial 1 🆚 4 @VillarrealCF #LaCopaMola🏆 pic.twitter.com/Ri1Vc5DRxw
Celta Vigo come into the match having suffered a disappointing 5-2 defeat at Ibiza in the Copa Del Rey on Tuesday night. The starting XI was completely different to that which was involved in the most recent La Liga game at Real Madrid last weekend but that is no excuse for losing the game heavily.
The game at Real Madrid ended 2-0, with the hosts opening the scoring after only 6 minutes and doubling their lead early in the second half. That defeat was the first for Celta Vigo in 7 La Liga matches having previously enjoyed a 6 match undefeated run in the league.
There were 5 victories in those 6 games, with wins coming at home against Granada, Cadiz, Deportivo Alaves, and Huesca.
Trends show Celta Vigo have won each of their last 4 home La Liga fixtures. They have scored at least 2 goals in each of those 4 games and both teams have scored in 8 of their 12 most recent home league matches. Celta Vigo have managed to keep just two clean sheets in those 12 games.
Villarreal make the trip to the Abanca-Balaídos having secured their place in the next round of the Copa Del Rey by defeating Zamora 4-1 away from home.
They were 2-0 up before half time and despite conceding a goal just before the half time whistle, Villarreal went on to score two additional goals in the second half to win the game.
That result means Villarreal have lost only one of their last 21 matches in all competitions, which is a tremendous record. The defeat came recently in an away La Liga fixture at Sevilla but is the only league defeat suffered by Villarreal in 14 matches.
Their away record shows just one defeat in their last 7 on the road and Villarreal have picked up two victories and 4 draws.
Trends show they have been under 2.5 goals scored in 4 of Villarreal’s last 6 away La Liga games. Only twice in their last 9 away league games have Villarreal managed to score more than a single goal.
Looking ahead to the team news and Celta Vigo are sure to make several changes to the team that lost in the Cup on Tuesday. However, Renato Tapia is suspended while Nolito, Iago Aspas, David Junca, Kevin Vazquez, and Sergio Alvarez are injured.
Villarreal have several injury concerns of their own with Vicente Iborra, Paco Alcácer, Juan Foyth, Francis Coquelin, and Alberto Moreno all unlikely to play any part in the game.
This has the makings of being a tight game and it would not be a surprise to see under 2.5 goals scored. However, we may see both teams find the back of the net and that would suggest this game could end in a 1-1 draw.