Celta Vigo vs Betis prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2024-01-02 18:15.
Under-fire Rafael BenĂtez has survived the Christmas break as Celta Vigo manager, and his New Year’s Resolution should be to start winning more football matches! The 63-year old has guided the club to just two league victories from 18 attempts (D7, L9) since taking the reins in the summer, with a 3-2 defeat to Villarreal in the final match of 2023 only upping the ante from sections of the fanbase who are now itching to see a change in the dugout.
That result, which left the Sky Blues inside the La Liga (LL) relegation zone, did at least come on the back of a five game unbeaten run (W2, D3) across all competitions that had bought BenĂtez more time. However, history suggests that bouncing back is unlikely here, as Celta have won their opening game of a calendar year just twice from their last ten attempts (D2, L6).
As if that’s not bad enough for the hosts, their opponents Real Betis have lost just four of the last 16 H2Hs (W6, D6). That said, the visitors aren’t exactly in peak form themselves, drawing a fourth successive league game for the first time since the end of the 2020/21 campaign, as their final match before the Christmas break against high-flying Girona finished 1-1.
Indeed, stalemates have been the order of the day for Manuel Pellegrini’s side, who have drawn more league fixtures (10) than any other top-flight team this season. Nine of those have come across a 13 game unbeaten run in LL (W4), which means that they sit just outside the European places ahead of this matchday. The opening of the transfer window has already given Los Verdiblancos a chance to strengthen their squad though, and they’ll hope that United States international Johnny Cardoso can help them deliver more victories in 2024 after this arrival from Internacional.
Key battle: Celta will be hoping Unai Núñez can extend his excellent record of just one defeat in eight H2Hs (W6, D1). Attempting to end that may be Real Betis forward Ayoze Pérez, who has not been beaten in a league game in which he has scored since December 2018 (W18, D4)!
Hot stat: Real Betis have conceded first in a LL low of just one of their nine away games (L1).