Can Espanyol continue to distance themselves from the hosts?
Celta Vigo are currently in the lower midfield in the Spanish league, while Espanyol are slightly better off. The visitors are looking to improve further and establish themselves in the top half of the table.
Ahead of the Celta Vigo vs Espanyol Barcelona match, betting odds show the hosts as favourites going into the game. However, the odds for a home win are still relatively high and in the 2.0 range, partly because both teams are not too far apart.
The home team has the chance to get back to within three points of the Catalans. In addition, a win could increase the gap to the relegation places. The match kicks off on Friday evening at 9pm.
Celta Vigo – Statistics & current form
Celta Vigo find themselves in the lower reaches of midfield in the La Liga table. The team is playing a solid season, but it has not been enough to move significantly away from the relegation places so far. With 17 points from 17 games, the hosts are in 14th place in the Spanish league, four points clear of the first relegation spot.
During the week, the team was in action in the Copa del Rey. Away at FC Andorra, there was a narrow 2:1 victory. It was not an absolute highlight, but the game was won and some players could be spared. Coach Eduardo Coudet and his team can now concentrate on the league and, at least according to the odds of the best bookmakers before the match between Celta Vigo and Espanyol Barcelona, they are favourites.
Surprisingly, the hosts have not had such good results at home. Celta Vigo celebrated one of their four wins this season at home, so there is still a lot of catching up to do.
Celta Vigo still have some catching up to do offensively
Besides the home statistics, there are other areas this season that are problematic. Celta Vigo’s defence works quite well overall and is not a big problem with 21 goals conceded, however, the offence often lies fallow. The host scored 17 goals in total this season, seven times there was no goal at all. That is too few overall, as even in the many close games that have taken place this season, they have failed to score the winning goal.
The reasons for the rather average offensive are obvious. The showpiece is the midfield, but more in terms of discipline, order and technique. The forward momentum is sometimes lacking, even though Celta Vigo often play with two attackers. But this is also noticeable here, for example when Aspas (7 goals) and Mina (5 goals) act together, the dependence on both is too great.
All in all, Celta Vigo is certainly not a bad team, but the overall yield is still too low. A win against Espanyol could significantly improve the current situation and above all increase the distance to the relegation zone. Due to the rather weak offensive and the good defence of the home side, our prediction before the match Celta Vigo vs Espanyol Barcelona is that less than 2.5 goals will be scored.
Predicted line-up of Celta Vigo:
Blanco – Mallo, Murillo, Araujo, Galan – Tapia, Yokuslu, Beltran, Denis Suarez, Mendez – Santi Mina
Last matches played by Celta Vigo:
Copa del Rey
12/14 2021 – FC Andorra 1 – 2 Celta Vigo
LaLiga
12/10 2021 – Mallorca 0 – 0 Celta Vigo
12/05 2021 – Celta Vigo 1 – 2 Valencia
Copa del Rey
11/30 2021 – Ebro 0 – 5 Celta Vigo
LaLiga
11/27 2021 – Deportivo Alaves 1 – 2 Celta Vigo
Espanyol Barcelona – Statistics & current form
Espanyol Barcelona are playing a season so far that is absolutely in line with what they envisioned. Even more, the place in the top half of the table is more than just a satisfaction. As with Celta Vigo, there was a lacklustre 2-1 win against Palencia Cristo in the Copa del Rey during the week, but that is only a secondary matter at the moment. The main focus is on the league and here the basis is very good.
The last few weeks in La Liga have been quite respectable. Espanyol have gained nine points from their last six games, winning three and losing the other three. Wins and defeats alternated, all successes were celebrated at home. This has been the case throughout the season, as the Catalans have yet to win away from home.
Espanyol Barcelona: Rarely a spectacle
It is striking this season that games involving Espanyol Barcelona rarely bring the really big spectacle. Yes, most recently there was a 4:3 win at home against Levante, but that is rather the exception. There are few games in which many goals are scored. Away from home, for example, the Catalans could only score five times in total, but fortunately the defence is not that bad either, with eleven goals conceded.
So also at Celta Vigo, in a game where the opponent has the greater pressure, the visitors will probably try to stand compactly at first. Going forward, more players need to exude some scoring threat, because apart from Raul de Tomas (8 goals), not much is coming. Aleix Vidal and Javi Puado are the second best scorers with two goals each.
So both teams are not interested in an open exchange of blows. Therefore, before the match between Celta Vigo and Espanyol Barcelona, our tip is that less than 2.5 goals will be scored.
Predicted line-up of Espanyol Barcelona:
Lopez – Vidal, Calero, Cabrera, Pedrosa – Lopez, Herrera, Morlanes, Puado, Vadillo – de Tomas
Last matches played by Espanyol Barcelona:
Copa del Rey
12/14 2021 – CD Palencia Cristo Atletico 1 – 2 Espanyol
LaLiga
12/11 2021 – Espanyol 4 – 3 Levante
12/05 2021 – Rayo Vallecano 1 – 0 Espanyol
Copa del Rey
12/01 2021 – SD Solares 2 – 3 Espanyol
LaLiga
11/28 2021 – Espanyol 1 – 0 San Sebastian
Celta Vigo – Espanyol Barcelona Direct comparison / H2H record
This duel is a traditional one in Spain. The two teams have faced each other more than 100 times. 39 games were won by Celta Vigo, 50 games went to Espanyol Barcelona. Another 28 games ended in a draw. With 184:150, Espanyol is also ahead in goals scored.
Celta Vigo – Espanyol Barcelona Tip
Celta Vigo and Espanyol Barcelona are not extremely far apart both individually and in terms of the table. So, we could be in for an exciting match between these two teams where nuances will make the difference.
Spectacle is not on offer from either of these teams this season. Many goals rarely come and both are too dependent on their top players in attack. Therefore, before the match between Celta Vigo and Espanyol Barcelona, our tip at fair odds is that less than 2.5 goals will be scored.
