Real Madrid will have to keep winning when they host Celta Vigo to ensure they stay alive in the La Liga title race.
While Real Madrid are fighting to keep their hopes of defending the La Liga title, Celta Vigo are pushing for a Europa League spot, and they also have a lot to play for in the game at the Santiago Bernabeu this weekend.
The home team are second on the table with 72 points in their 33 outings. They are four points behind league leaders Barcelona with just five games to go and cannot afford to drop points with an all-important El Clasico in a week.
The reigning La Liga champions have won each of their last three league games and are heading into this fixture on the back of a 3-2 defeat at the hands of the Blaugrana in the Copa del Rey final. They will certainly be eager to return to winning ways against Celta.
On the other hand, the visitors are seventh on the table with 46 points in their 33 outings. Celta Vigo are eight points behind sixth-placed Real Betis but only have a two-point cushion over 8th-placed Osasuna. With only a handful of games to go, they cannot afford to drop points as it could cost them big time.
After back-to-back defeats, Celta Vigo bounced back with an important 3-0 win over Villarreal in their last outing. The Galician outfit dominated the proceedings against the Yellow Submarine, who were reduced to 10 men but things won’t be that easy against Los Blancos. The Hard Tackle takes a close look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could deploy.
Team News & Tactics
Real Madrid
The team in white will be without the services of five of their first-team defenders. Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao have been long-term absentees, while David Alaba, Ferland Mendy, and Antonio Rudiger have now joined them on the sidelines, leaving Carlo Ancelotti with a major defensive crisis ahead of the clash.
Meanwhile, Eduardo Camavinga will also be unavailable for this fixture. Jude Bellingham’s Copa del Rey final red card has been revoked. While Lucas Vazquez has been banned for two fixtures, he will be serving that ban in the cup competition next season.
The home team could line up in the 4-4-2 midfield diamond formation that gave them a lot of success last season. Thibaut Courtois will continue in goal for the team in white. Meanwhile, Vazquez and Fran Garcia could be the full-backs.
Aurelien Tchouameni could start alongside Raul Asencio in the heart of the defence. Dani Ceballos could take up the role of a holding midfielder, while Federico Valverde and Luka Modric could be in his support.
Bellingham will take up the number ten role, while Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe should be leading the line for them. While Rodrygo will be available, the Manchester United-linked attacker could be subject to the bench amidst uncertainty around his future.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Courtois; Vazquez, Asencio, Tchouameni, F Garcia; Valverde, Ceballos, Modric, Bellingham; Vinicius, Mbappe
Celta Vigo
The visitors will be without the services of Carl Starfelt who is out with a hamstring issue. Meanwhile, Jones El-Abdellaoui is a major doubt for this fixture. Claudio Giraldez is unlikely to make too many changes to the XI that won in their last outing.
He will stick to the 3-4-3 formation, where Vicente Guaita will be in goal. Yoel Lago, Carlos Dominguez and Marcos Alonso will form the back three, while Hugo Álvarez and Oscar Mingueza will feature as wing-backs.
In the centre of the park, Damian Rodriguez and Ilaix Moriba will look to shield the backline and ensure the Real Madrid midfielders do not dominate the proceedings. Fer Lopez and Alfonso Gonzalez will feature on the flanks providing much-needed width to their attacks. Borja Iglesias will lead the line for Celta Vigo against Real Mad.
Probable Lineup (4-5-1): Guaita; Lago, Dominguez, Alonso; Alvarez, Rodriguez, Moriba, Mingueza; F Lopez, Iglesias, Gonzalez
Key Stats
- Real Madrid have won 81 out of their last 136 meetings against Celta Vigo, who have only won 34 times.
- The two teams last met at the start of the year when Los Blancos claimed a 5-2 extra-time win at home in the Copa del Rey round of 16.
- The last seven fixtures between the two teams have produced three goals or more.
- Celta Vigo have failed to win any of their last 18 games against the team in white (15 defeats).
- Carlo Ancelotti’s team’s last eight La Liga games have been decided by a one-goal margin.
Player to Watch
Kylian Mbappe
Mbappe came off the bench in their Copa del Rey final defeat at the hands of Barcelona. While it was not Real Madrid’s night, the French international was a constant threat for the Catalan giants and he even bagged a free-kick goal. He will certainly start against Celta Vigo and will be eager to help his team return to winning ways.
The 26-year-old has been involved in a total of 50 games and has contributed towards 37 goals (33 goals, 4 assists). He averages a goal every 124 minutes and it won’t be much of a surprise if he adds to his tally in this fixture.
Prediction
Real Madrid 3-1 Celta Vigo
Real Madrid will head into this fixture with clear intent as they look to keep the pressure on league leaders Barcelona. Despite a string of injuries at the back, the attacking firepower of Los Blancos should prove to be too much for a Celta Vigo side that has struggled against them historically.
While Celta Vigo will look to build on their impressive 3-0 win over Villarreal, they are up against a wounded Madrid side that tends to bounce back strong. Claudio Giraldez’s team might find it hard to contain the attacking runs of Madrid’s front line, and their defence will need to be at its absolute best to avoid another heavy defeat. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-1 win for the home team.
