Will the Galicians end their slump in Bilbao?
Celta Vigo have won just one of their last eight league games (three draws, four defeats). Currently, the Galicians have been waiting for another win for four games, scoring only one goal in that period. The Celestes now come to the San Mamés in a correspondingly poor form, but at least they have not lost any of their last two matches there.
The Leones are not in top form either. Although the Basques recently remained unbeaten in three league games in a row (one win, two draws). However, the eight-time Spanish champions are not really satisfied with their eighth place in La Liga. Nevertheless, in the run-up to the clash between Athletic Bilbao and Celta Vigo, the odds are swinging in the Leones’ favour.
After all, Bilbao have a solid home record. Eight of the 15 league games at the San Mamés have been won (three draws, four defeats). Four of those eight wins have come in the last five home games alone. Nevertheless, betting on a home win comes with some risk, which is why we favour betting on under 2.5 goals for Athletic Bilbao against Celta Vigo.
Athletic Bilbao – Statistics & current form
The Athletic Club has already celebrated eight national championships, although the last triumph dates back 38 years. At that time, the Leones even won the national double and celebrated their 23rd Copa del Rey triumph in parallel to the championship title.
It is the Basques who are most upset that the latter figure has not been achieved since then. In the end, there were several chances to go one better. In 2020 and 2021, Bilbao reached the final of the Copa del Rey but failed to win the title.
Nine points off sixth place
This season, Marcelino’s men were knocked out of the Copa del Rey semifinals by Valencia, so once again the only option is league play. Seven matchdays before the end of the season, however, they are nine points off sixth place, which is why they are slowly but surely planning for another year without European competition.
But the season has not been written off yet. If Real Betis win the Copa, seventh place would at least be enough for the Conference League. And that place is only one point away. The Leones are therefore taking their home game against the Galicians very seriously.
Won eight of the 15 home games in La Liga
Marcelino’s side are favourites to win their home game against the Celestes. Also because of the home strength of the Basques, who have won eight of their 15 home games in league play, Athletic Bilbao vs Celta Vigo tip 1 is under a good star.
After all, four of the last five home games at the San Mamés have been won, with the Leones always scoring two goals of their own in those four victories. However, the fact that defender Inigo Martínez is likely to be absent due to muscular problems is a bitter loss that Athletic Club must first compensate for.
Projected line-up of Athletic Bilbao:
Simón – Balenziaga – Álvarez – Vivian – de Marcos – Muniain – Vesga – Vencedor – Berenguer – I. Williams – García
Last matches played by Athletic Bilbao:
La Liga
09/04/2022 – FC Villarreal 1 – 1 Athletic Bilbao
03/04/2022 – Athletic Bilbao 2 – 1 Elche
19/03/2022 – Athletic Bilbao 1 – 1 Getafe
13/03/2022 – Real Betis 1 – 0 Athletic Bilbao
08/03/2022 – Athletic Bilbao 3 – 1 Levante
Celta Vigo – Statistics & current form
The Real Club Celta de Vigo have reached the final of the Copa del Rey four times in the club’s history. However, the Célticos have never won a title so far and are far from being able to challenge anywhere this season.
The Celestes have also failed to build on their eighth-place finish from the previous season, when they narrowly missed out on qualification for the inaugural edition of the Conference League. Their tally of 36 points from 31 league games is only good enough for twelfth place.
Only one win in last eight league games
After all, the Galician outfit have nothing to do with the relegation battle, although their eight-point lead over the first relegation spot could quickly shrink if the negative run continues in the remaining seven matchdays.
The Célticos have already picked up just six points out of a possible 24 in their last eight league games. Most recently, Eduardo Coudet’s side have gone winless in four successive league games, scoring just one goal in the process.
Goalless in five of last six away games
Accordingly, the Galicians travel to the Basque Country as underdogs, but at least they have not lost either of their last two matches against the Leones (one win, one draw).
After failing to score in five of their last six away games in La Liga, the Celestes’ attack in particular will have to improve significantly. Overall, the Coudet team has only scored 34 goals in 31 league games – a rating that could be improved.
Predicted line-up of Celta Vigo:
Dituro – Galán – Araujo – Aidoo – Vázquez – Beltrán – Cervi – Suárez – Méndez – Aspas – Mina
Last matches played by Celta Vigo:
La Liga
10/04/2022 – Espanyol 1 – 0 Celta Vigo
02/04/2022 – Celta Vigo 1 – 2 Real Madrid
20/03/2022 – Celta Vigo 0 – 0 Real Betis
13/03/2022 – Villarreal FC 1 – 0 Celta Vigo
07/03/2022 – Celta Vigo 4 – 3 Mallorca
Athletic Bilbao – Celta Vigo Direct comparison / H2H balance
Head to head: 61 – 24 – 30
There have been a total of 115 meetings between the two teams so far and with 61 victories, more than half of all duels have gone to the Leones, who also won the first leg in Galicia 1-0. Before that, however, Celta Vigo remained unbeaten in four consecutive league games against Bilbao (two wins, two draws).
Athletic Bilbao – Celta Vigo betting tips
The prediction for Athletic Bilbao against Celta Vigo basically goes in the direction of the home side. However, the Célticos should not be written off, as they remained unbeaten in their last two matches at the San Mamés. The clash between two teams who would certainly have liked to have finished a little better than they currently do could be correspondingly tight.
The three-way system is consequently not the most convincing choice. Instead, we try the goal bet and go for less than 2.5 goals. After all, there have only been more goals in one of the last six encounters between the two clubs.
