Atletico Madrid will be on the road to stitching together a good run of results when they visit an in-form Celta Vigo.
Celta Vigo, who face Atletico Madrid next, have had problems this season, but Carlos Carvalhal’s side has much more to do before they ensure absolute safety. Nevertheless, two consecutive wins in La Liga have pulled them away from the relegation zone.
They are only three points away from the danger zone, although their current form suggests they might race away. Celta have lost only once in seven games in La Liga and now face a stern test at home with Atletico Madrid visiting.
📑💙 Nuestros 2⃣3⃣ convocados para buscar la tercera victoria consecutiva en @LaLiga #CeltaAtleti pic.twitter.com/aIzayT39U8
— RC Celta (@RCCelta) February 11, 2023
In the last matchday, Celta edged out Real Betis in a seven-goal thriller, with Gabri Veiga netting twice, while strikes from Jorgen Strand Larsen and Joseph Aidoo sealed the three points. They must show a mettle against a top-four side and continue their good run.
Meanwhile, Diego Simeone will hope his team starts putting in consistent performances and collecting points to guarantee a top-four finish. They are among the Champions League places, but shaky performances could derail their quest.
Atletico could only manage a tame 1-1 draw against struggling Getafe, and that was a game everyone would have expected the Rojiblancos to win. Since losing to Barcelona, Simeone’s men have remained unbeaten in their last four games and have a favourable record against Celta.
Atletico Madrid have won their last three games against their opponents, including a 4-1 win at home earlier in the season. The problem for Simeone has been performances against struggling or lower-table sides, and he hopes to correct the problem against Celta.
Team News & Tactics
Celta Vigo
Carlos Carvalhal will have two problems for the game against Atletico, with Agustin Marchesin injured with an achilles problem, while Unai Nunez remains suspended for accumulating too many yellow cards.
🔥🏟️ "La unión de los jugadores y la afición tiene que significar jugar con doce futbolistas"
🗣️ @carloscarvalha2 en la previa del #CeltaAtleti pic.twitter.com/7ArWJvHNAd
— RC Celta (@RCCelta) February 11, 2023
Nunez’s absence will allow Carvalhal to bring Hugo Mallo into the starting lineup at right back. Celta will have a familiar look apart from that enforced change, as Iago Aspas will once again feature as the de facto leader of their attack.
Jorgen Strand Larsen should join him in the final third as Celta deploys a front two. The shape will look like a traditional 4-4-2, with Carles Perez firmly settled on the right side of the midfield four.
Gabri Veiga and Fran Beltran will continue marshalling the central midfield zone, while Oscar Mingueza and Aidoo hold the fort at the back.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Villar; Mallo, Aidoo, Mingueza, Galan; Perez, Beltran, Veiga, Torre; Aspas, Larsen
Atletico Madrid
Diego Simeone will likely change his team’s shape for a visit to Celta Vigo. The Atletico Madrid manager could switch to a back three to gain more control of the game while deploying Marcos Llorente and Pablo Barrios in midfield.
Ready for tomorrow 💪 pic.twitter.com/2GYi7vqV4d
— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) February 11, 2023
He could also add Koke to the left side of a midfield three and add defensive solidity to the team. Regarding absences, Simeone has no fresh concerns and could have an entire squad at his disposal.
Simeone could prefer to start Antoine Griezmann and Alvaro Morata in the attack, meaning Memphis Depay will have to contend with a place on the bench. Meanwhile, Angel Correa, on the scoresheet against Getafe, could drop down to a substitute role.
Reinildo, Stefan Savic and Mario Hermoso will continue to keep the central defensive line for Atletico, with Nahuel Molina and Thomas Lemar likely to take the wing-back roles.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Oblak; Reinildo, Savic, Hermoso; Molina, Llorente, Barrios, Koke, Lemar; Griezmann, Morata
Key Stats
- Atletico Madrid have been winning at both half-time and full-time in their last three matches against Celta Vigo in all competitions.
- Atletico Madrid have scored at least two goals in their last five matches against Celta Vigo in all competitions.
- Atletico Madrid have won their last three matches against Celta Vigo in all competitions.
- Celta Vigo’s patchy home form has seen them pick only 13 points from ten La Liga games this season.
- Celta Vigo have lost only once in their last seven La Liga games.
Player to Watch
Antoine Griezmann
Et voilá 🤙 pic.twitter.com/EXatAXm5zp
— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) February 10, 2023
Griezmann continues to show patchy form for his club, which is different from how he played for France in Qatar. The Frenchman continues to hold an essential position in Diego Simeone’s system. But at times, his role in a front-two seems wasteful. Meanwhile, his performances have attracted several clubs, including Atletico Madrid.
Either way, Griezmann desperately needs to lift his form and shine for Atletico Madrid. He needs to improve his numbers in front of the goal or as a provider, while games like the ones against Celta Vigo could prove helpful.
Prediction
Celta Vigo 1-3 Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid come into this clash in a rich vein of form against Celta Vigo. Their most significant win of the season came against Carlos Carvalhal’s men, and Diego Simeone will hope the trick repeats itself. The home side will otherwise rely on their recent momentum.
Simeone’s side have the edge against their opponents and have the personnel to get the goals. Antoine Griezmann and Alvaro Morata have had decent seasons, and one would assume Atletico will take all three points here.
