Valladolid – Celta Vigo : Preview & Prediction
Real Valladolid’s engine is still not starting, with only two wins (G2, E2, P5) and a point ahead of Almería, who are in the relegation zone after nine LaLiga Santander (LL) matches. The Blanquivioletas face a difficult midweek fixture after losing 1-0 away to Espanyol, a game that saw only two shots on target for the Blanquivioletas. Pacheta, the coach of the Puebla side, lamented the few chances his team had to score, but played down the importance of the defeat in the post-match press conference: “I don’t consider it a step backwards because this is going to be a long one”.
What Pacheta should be concerned about is his team’s dismal offensive output at the José Zorrilla, where they have scored just one goal in four LL games (G1, E1, P2) this season. That lack of goals doesn’t sit well with the fact that Valladolid has won just two of its last ten home games against Wednesday’s Primera Liga opponents (G2, E2, P6).
Celta Vigo, who lost 2-1 to Real Sociedad at Balaídos on Sunday (CEL 1-2 RSO), are struggling at the moment and have dropped to eleventh place after picking up three points from the last 15 in play (G1, P4). In addition to two defeats, Chacho Coudet’s side suffered the dismissal of Gonçalo Paciência – the Portuguese striker was shown a straight red card when the match was already over – who will miss the fifth league trip of a Celta squad forced to react in order not to move further away from the fight for the European competition places, in which it has not competed since 2016-17.
Celta’s last three outings have ended with as many defeats in three very complicated places (Metropolitano, Mestalla, Camp Nou). The Celestes, with only two away goals scored in this championship (G1, P3), have won only three of the 12 LL matches played away from Balaídos in 2022 (G3, P9) and can string together four away defeats in the top flight for the first time since September-November 2019.
Players to watch: canary midfielder Roque Mesa has been on the winning side in 50% of the games he has played against Celta (G6, E3, P3). Valladolid’s top threat will be Iago Aspas, who already has six goals in LL 2022-23 and has been a nightmare for the pucelano team over the years. The Moaña native has scored eight goals in nine appearances against Valladolid, none of which have resulted in defeat for Aspas’ side (G4, E5).
Outstanding fact: there has been a share of the points in five of the last six meetings between Valladolid and Celta.
Valladolid – Celta Vigo : Betting Tips
Celta Vigo – Win Odds:2.25
