La Liga | Gameweek 16

Dec 6, 2024 at 8pm UK

Estadio de Balaidos

Celta Vigovs.Mallorca

Match preview

Celta had a disappointing 3-1 loss to Espanyol in the league last weekend, but they made a strong comeback in the Copa del Rey on Tuesday, scoring seven unanswered goals against Salmananca UDS to advance to the third round of the competition.

The Vigo team has a record of five wins, three draws and seven losses from their 15 league matches this season. This puts them in 12th place in La Liga with 18 points, six points behind sixth-placed Mallorca.

Claudio Giraldez's team have been strong at home this season, picking up 14 points from their eight matches thanks to four wins and two draws. They'll be welcoming a Mallorca side that've won four of their seven games away from home in the 2024-25 season.

Celta finished 13th in La Liga last season, and they'll be hoping to improve on that this term. However, conceding goals has been an issue, with 27 conceded in their 15 games, which is the joint second worst defensive record in the division.

It's been a different story for the Sky Blues at the other end of the field, with 23 goals to their name. Only four teams – Atlético Madrid, Villarreal, Real Madrid and Barcelona – have scored more in La Liga this season.

Mallorca were blown away by Barcelona on Tuesday, conceding five times on home turf. Four of the Catalan outfit's goals came in the second half after the two teams went into the half-time break at 1-1.

Jagoba Arrasate and his team can be pleased with their overall performance this season. They've won seven, drawn three and lost six of their 16 matches, which has left them in sixth spot in the table with 24 points.

The Pirates are just two points behind fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao and could be in with a chance of a surprise European finish this term, but they need to work on their goal-scoring.

Mallorca, who were 15th in Spain's top flight last season, have only scored 16 times in their 16 league matches this season. Despite this, they've been solid defensively, conceding just five against Barcelona.

Mallorca haven't lost any of their last four La Liga games against Celta, including a 1-0 win in the corresponding match during the 2023-24 season. However, their last meeting, which took place in Vigo earlier this year, ended in a 1-1 draw.

Recent Performance

Celta Vigo La Liga form:LLWDDL

Celta Vigo form (all competitions):WWDDLW

Mallorca La Liga form:DLLWWL

Team News

Celta will be without two players on Friday due to injury. Jailson and Luca de la Torre are out, but Joseph Aidoo made his return in the Copa del Rey on Tuesday night.

There'll be lots of changes to the side that started the cup fixture. Oscar Mingueza, Vicente Guaita and Iago Aspas are set to come back into the XI for the La Liga match.

Aspas has been on great form for Celta this season, scoring five goals and setting up three others in 14 appearances. The 37-year-old is set for another start on Friday night.

Mallorca will still be without Copete, Toni Lato and Ivan Cuellar, but they didn't pick up any new injuries in their heavy home defeat to Barcelona last time out.

Head coach Arrasate is unlikely to make any major changes to the team, but Dominik Greif is set to return between the sticks, while Mateu Morey and Cyle Larin are also expected to come into the side.

It looks like we'll be seeing a 4-4-2 formation, with Antonio Sanchez and Sergi Darder in the wide areas. It seems likely that Pablo Maffeo and Valery will be the two outfield players to drop out of the side for this contest.

Possible starting lineup

Celta Vigo possible starting lineup:

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

Mallorca possible starting lineup:

Greif; Morey, Valjent, Raillo, Mojica; A Sanchez, Morlanes, Costa, Darder; Larin, Muriqi