Celta Vigo – Elche : Preview & Prediction
Few were surprised when Celta de Vigo’s defense ended up succumbing to Real Madrid at the Bernabéu. Los Blancos were able to beat the Celeste, who created very little danger and conceded a goal late in the first half and another at the beginning of the second (RM 2-0 CEL). Although the team from Vigo has a margin of six points over the red zone, a series of four matchdays without a win is alarming, and even more so considering the results they have achieved in the current LaLiga Santander (LL) campaign as favorites (G7, E4, P5), a status they enjoy this Wednesday.
Those numbers are even worse if you only consider home matches (G4, E4, P3), the last of which ended in a 1-0 loss to Mallorca. But at Balaídos, Celta usually show great defensive solidity when they open the scoring; in nine of their ten home wins since the start of 2022, Los Celestes have kept a clean sheet.
After suffering their eighth defeat in ten games last Sunday against Valencia (0-2), Elche could be relegated to the silverware on matchday 32. On a five-game losing streak, the Elche side is in danger of becoming the first team to finish an LL campaign with fewer than 20 points in the 21st century. Having taken six points from a possible 45 on the road, the franjiverdes travel to a stadium where they have lost on their last two visits.
After achieving against Mallorca their only away win in the current championship (March 4), Elche have lost three consecutive away matches. In the first halves of their matches away from the Martínez Valero, the franjiverde squad has conceded 13 goals after the 30th min, a significant statistic that speaks of their great fragility in the stretch of play before halftime.
Players to watch: Iago Aspas and Gabri Veiga account for the majority (21) of Celta’s 36 goals in LL 2022-23, and there has been a brace from either of the two Celeste cracks in six of their last eight home wins. On Elche’s side, with a dismal offensive output, Tete Morente has been their lone scorer in their current losing streak. Two of the Cadiz winger’s three goals in all competitions this season have come in stoppage time.
Key stat: Only one of the ten previous meetings between Celta and Elche has featured goals from both sides in the first half.
Celta Vigo – Elche : Betting Tips
Celta Vigo – Win Odds: 1.40
