Real Madrid vs Celta Vigo prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2023-04-21 19:00.
Real Madrid’s 2-0 La Liga (LL) win over Cádiz, coupled with Barcelona dropping points at Girona, closed the deficit at the top of the table to 11 points, keeping the title race theoretically alive for a little longer. Tuesday night’s 2-0 UEFA Champions League (UCL) win over Chelsea to put them into the semi-finals therefore capped off a decent week for the reigning champions.
Last time out at the Bernabéu in LL though, Los Blancos were beaten 3-2 by Villarreal for their first home league defeat of the season (W9, D4), suggesting they might have taken their eye off the ball with the UCL in mind. Manager Carlo Ancelotti will be in no mood for a repeat, as the last time Madrid lost consecutive home league games was back in March 2019.
While Celta Vigo are still knocking on the door of the top half, their Monday night 1-0 defeat to Mallorca ended their seven-match unbeaten run in the league (W3, D4) to dent those ambitions. Repeating their top-ten finish of two seasons ago would be a fine way to mark their centenary year, as would beating Madrid, which they haven’t managed in the league since May 2014 (D2, L15).
You have to go back to November 2006 for the last time they claimed a LL H2H triumph in Madrid (D1, L9) which highlights the scale of the task Celta face, even if they’re unbeaten in league away action since the start of February (W2, D3). But perhaps their biggest challenge in the coming months is keeping hold of midfielder Gabri Veiga, with Madrid among a number of clubs reportedly keen to sign him in the summer!
Players to watch: Rodrygo’s midweek brace against Chelsea saw him net twice after the 50th minute, a period in which five of his last six goals have arrived. Also dangerous late on, Carles Pérez completed Celta’s scoring in two of their last four matches.
Hot streak: The last seven H2Hs (Madrid: W6, D1) all witnessed goals in both halves.