Atl. Madrid vs Celta Vigo prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2022-09-09 19:00.
His elated sprint down the touchline to meet Antoine Griezmann in the 101st minute of AtlĂ©tico Madridâs 2-1 Champions League defeat of Porto suggested otherwise, but manager Diego Simeone was a very unhappy winner during the week, describing the overall performance of his side as âbadâ. If Simeone was underwhelmed in victory, he must be dreadfully disappointed with a La Liga (LL) campaign in which they have already dropped points as favourites twice (W2, D1, L1).
Simeone is still optimistic in spite of the slow start to the LL season, praising their growth in aggression, intensity and speed after a 1-1 draw away to Sociedad. The Atlético veteran has been in the game long enough to know that a season is not decided in the opening month, particularly in 2018/19 when his club recovered to finish second after collecting even fewer points (W1, D2, L1) in their first four games.
After picking up draws from two of their last three LL trips to AtlĂ©tico, Celta Vigo could even be poised to go one-better, particularly after picking up back-to-back LL wins for the first time in the 2022 calendar year with defeats of Girona (1-0) and CĂĄdiz (3-0). Theyâre going to need all the belief and confidence they can muster, with this the first of four LL clashes against top-six finishers from last season coming up in the next five rounds.
That will be a sharp step up from their first four engagements of the LL season, three of which they commenced as favourites (W2, D1). However, as well as some favourable recent history away to AtlĂ©tico, Celta picked up enough big scalps on the road in the previous edition – including 2-0 wins at both Betis and Athletic – to believe theyâre in with a chance against a vulnerable opposition.
Players to watch: AtlĂ©tico wouldnât mind getting the job done a bit earlier this time and may look to Ălvaro Morata, who has scored within the opening 15 minutes twice this LL season. As Celtaâs only first-half goal scorer of this LL season, Iago Aspas appears by far the most likely to make an early impact for the visitors.
Hot stat: Celta led at the half-time break in just one of their last nine LL away games, but converted it into a victory against Athletic.