Celta Vigo vs Villarreal prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2024-05-04 14:15.
[p]With five matches left to play in La Liga this season, Celta Vigo very much remain locked in a battle for safety. They begin this latest matchday sat in 17th spot and just five points above the bottom three after enduring a campaign that had promised plenty but has instead since seen them deliver little, resulting in former manager Rafael Benitez being sacked in mid-March.[/p]
[p]His replacement Claudio Giráldez has steadied the ship somewhat since, delivering two wins across five matches in charge (D1, L2) but a 3-0 defeat to Alaves last time out will have supporters worried that another blip could be around the corner. The arrival of Villarreal will do little to ease the pressure before kick-off either, considering that Celta have won just one of their last 11 top-flight home H2Hs (D5, L5).[/p]
[p]Whilst that will come as bad news for the home side, visiting Villarreal will take that recent solid record at Estadio de Balaídos as extra inspiration as they look to climb further towards the European spots. Ahead of this matchday, the Yellows sit six points adrift of Real Sociedad in sixth spot but will enter here in buoyant mood after winning back-to-back league outings over the last two weekends. [/p]
[p]There’s a little added incentive for Villarreal here too, who know after remaining undefeated across each of their last six away La Liga fixtures (W4, D2), they could equal their longest such run since March 2017 with another positive result in this one. However, a return of just two clean sheets across 16 away league matches so far this term would suggest that doing so hangs in the balance.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Celta’s Jørgen Strand Larsen has struck 11 La Liga goals this campaign, and his last three have all come beyond the 70th minute. He could be upstaged by Gerard Moreno on this occasion though, as the Spaniard has netted seven times across 13 personal H2Hs, including one in this exact fixture last season. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Villarreal’s away La Liga matches this season have averaged 3.38 goals in total – the most of any side in the competition. [/p]