La Liga | Gameweek 15

Nov 30, 2024 at 5.30pm UK

RCDE Stadium

Espanyolvs.Celta Vigo

Match preview

Espanyol have had a pretty rough start to the season, with three wins, one draw and nine defeats from their 13 league matches. That puts them in 19th place in the table on 10 points, just one point ahead of basement side Real Valladolid.

The Catalan side have had a tough time defending this season, conceding 26 times. Only Real Valladolid (27) have let in more goals at this stage of the campaign. It looks like they'll be in a relegation battle this season.

Espanyol have lost four games in a row in the Spanish league. They were beaten by Athletic Bilbao, Sevilla, Barcelona and Girona. The last time they won was on 2 October, when they beat Mallorca 2-1 at home.

The White and Blues have made it back to La Liga through the 2023-24 Segunda División playoffs, but they've had a tough start to the season, losing seven of their last eight games at this level.

Espanyol will be looking to bounce back from their 4-1 defeat at Girona, as well as a 2-0 loss to Sevilla in their last match at home at the end of October.

Celta, on the other hand, will go into the match after drawing 2-2 with Barcelona. It was an amazing comeback for the Sky Blues in the second half of their game against the league leaders.

Claudio Giraldez's team were 2-0 down going into the last few minutes, but Alfon Gonzalez made it 2-1 in the 84th minute, and Hugo Alvarez equalised less than two minutes later. In the end, the points were shared.

Celta have been on a winning streak recently, unbeaten in their last four matches across all competitions. They even beat Getafe 1-0 in La Liga. Currently, they sit in 11th place in the table with 18 points from their opening 14 matches.

The Sky Blues are just four points behind sixth-placed Osasuna, and they've been one of the most entertaining sides to watch in La Liga this term. They've scored 22 times in their 14 matches, but they've also conceded 24.

Celta have only lost once to Espanyol in La Liga since September 2017. They also beat them 3-1 when the two sides last met at the start of 2023.

Recent Performance

Espanyol La Liga form:LWLLLL

Espanyol form (all competitions):WLLWLL

Celta Vigo La Liga form:WLLWDD

Celta Vigo form (all competitions):LLWWDD

Team News

Espanyol will be without three first-team players on Saturday due to injury. Jose Gragera, Fernando Calero and Edu Exposito are all out of action at the moment.

Javi Puado has been Espanyol's most productive player this season in terms of goals, scoring five times, and the 26-year-old will be in the starting XI again. Alejo Veliz, who is on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, should lead the line.

Gonzalez is likely to make a change in midfield on Saturday, with Aguado possibly coming in for Bauza.

Giraldez could stick with the same side that started against Barcelona.

Alfon Gonzalez is hoping for a start, having scored from the bench against the league leaders, but it looks like Jonathan Bamba will keep playing on the left, with Hugo Alvarez on the other side.

Iago Aspas has been on great form this season, scoring four times and setting up three goals in 13 La Liga games. He'll be leading the line again, but Jailson and Luca de la Torre will miss out due to injury problems.

Possible starting lineup

Espanyol possible starting lineup:

J Garcia; Tejero, El Hilali, S Gomez, Cabrera, Romero; Carreras, Aguado, Kral, Puado; Veliz

Celta Vigo possible starting lineup:

Guaita; J Rodriguez, Starfelt, Alonso, Mingueza; Alvarez, Beltran, Moriba, Bamba; Douvikas, Aspas