Celta Vigo vs Girona prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2024-01-27 13:00.
Celta Vigo’s centenary celebrations this campaign continue to be anything but jovial, though the signs are gradually improving. Head coach Rafa BenĂtez appears to be fixing their prior defensive woes, underlined by the fact that his side have now conceded more than one goal in just one of their last eight La Liga matches (W2, D4, L2), a return aided by his reunion with defender Javier Manquillo, who he brought to Tyneside as Newcastle boss in 2017.
In the meantime, the hosts desperately need to pick up more points on home soil in particular if they’re to pull away from the relegation zone, which is just two points beneath them ahead of this round. That’s because the highest ranked of the two clubs they have beaten at home this La Liga season (D4, L5) is Real Betis (9th), whilst the three top-seven sides they hosted all kept Celta scoreless (L3).
That’s good news for title challengers Girona, although they’ve been losing their aura of invincibility slightly in recent weeks, highlighted again by their Copa del Rey exit in midweek. That said, they finished their 5-1 thrashing of Sevilla last weekend atop the standings, having already claimed their largest points haul in a single top-flight season, whilst they’re the league’s highest-scoring team by far with 51 goals scored.
Manager MĂchel isn’t getting ahead of himself but with the UEFA Champions League remaining a major ambition for the team, there will be certain standards expected. They currently enjoy an 11-point buffer as far as a top-four finish is concerned, but stumbles against both AlmerĂa (0-0) and Real Betis (1-1) in their two most recent La Liga away trips could leave the door open for their next hosts to cause an upset.
Players to watch: Celta’s Iago Aspas has a return of three goals and one assist from his last five La Liga appearances against Girona, with two of those strikes serving as game openers. Only recently back from injury, Girona’s Yangel Herrera netted a 91st minute winner in the reverse fixture.
Hot stat: Six of Celta Vigo’s eight losses this La Liga season came via a one-goal margin.