Celta Vigo eye unlikely win in Madrid clash.

2024-10-13

In a clash of contrasting fortunes, Celta Vigo will attempt to defy history and end their eight-game losing streak against a formidable Real Madrid side, as they meet at the Balaídos with both teams eager to continue their successful post-international break form.

Celta de Vigo

Celta Vigo will return to La Liga action with a home fixture against Real Madrid. They head into the match after securing a hard-fought 1-0 win over Las Palmas, despite being reduced to nine men in the 56th minute.

This victory helped the Sky Blues move into 9th place with 13 points, ending a three-game winless run. However, picking up back-to-back La Liga victories remains unlikely due to the quality of Saturday’s opponents.

Vigo will aim to avoid an outright defeat, as they have failed to win any of their last 20 La Liga meetings with Real Madrid. Furthermore, they're on an eight-game losing streak against the Whites, their highest number of consecutive top-flight defeats.

They will be eager to end this losing run by appearing in a 3-4-3 formation, with Borja Iglesias at the centre of attack. Manager Claudio González will be without the suspended duo of Ilaix Moriba and Iago Aspas, both sent off in the win over Las Palmas.

Real Madrid

Real Madrid returned to winning ways just before the international break with a 2-0 victory over Villarreal. The Whites, currently second with 21 points from six wins and three draws, are only three points behind table-topping Barcelona.

Real Madrid boasts the second-best attacking record this season, with 19 goals, trailing only Barcelona's 28. Their upcoming fixture against Celta Vigo, who have one of the weakest defenses in La Liga, shouldn't be a cause for concern.

Historically, Real Madrid has been dominant against Celta Vigo, winning nine of their last ten visits in La Liga. Preparations for Saturday’s match continued smoothly, with all players having returned from international duty.

Carlo Ancelotti is expected to field a 4-4-2 formation with Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior leading the attack. Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappé faces serious allegations that may affect his availability, though he has labelled the accusations as "fake news."