La Liga: Reigning Champs Head to Galicia

Celta Vigo vs Real Madrid

It’s Saturday night and the La Liga champions are coming to Galicia.

When the champs are in town, opponents tend to either raise their game or, on occasion, it is too much for them.

Celta Vigo certainly fall into the former camp and, while their record against Real Madrid has seen them suffer some very one-sided defeats in recent years, home boss Chacho Coudet will have a plan to thwart Carlo Ancelotti’s aces.

Talking Points

Both teams were involved in La Liga 2022 highlights during the opening weekend of the new season.

Real came from behind to win at Almeria but only after they were given a mighty fright.

Former Manchester United striker Largie Ramazani fired Almeria into a shock lead after just six minutes and goalkeeper Fernando Martinez then made a series of saves to frustrate the Spanish and European champions before Lucas Vazquez levelled.

Then, with 15 minutes remaining, Ancelotti turned to David Alaba and the former Bayern Munich man struck the winner from a free-kick with his first touch after coming off the bench.

Real’s character had shone through, although credit to the newly-promoted club – a team with four unknown teenagers for summer signings, their best player about to leave and six still not registered, blocked by that salary limit – whose starting XI contained only three men who had played in Spain’s top-flight before, and two of those had three games between them.

Meanwhile, Celta would have been frustrated.

They led Espanyol 2-0 at home with 18 minutes remaining in their opener after goals from the evergreen Iago Aspas and Goncalo Paciencia before being pegged back with Joselu’s equaliser from the penalty spot recorded as being scored in the eighth minute of stoppage time.

The club is currently in the middle of a rebuild and has brought in nine new faces this summer, including Carles Perez who has arrived on loan with an option to buy from AS Roma.

He should add some depth out wide for Celta Vigo, who said goodbye to Nolito and Brais Mendez this summer.

One man on the verge of a move is actually on Real’s books, although Antonio Blanco would be a loan deal rather than a permanent one.

Blanco has struggled for opportunities and, with Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni also coming in, there appears little chance of him getting regular first team football this season.

He joins a competitive position group at Cadiz and will have to win minutes from the likes of Tomas Alarcon, Ruben Alcaraz, and Fede San Emeterio.

Of course, he won’t be involved this Saturday night but, as the fixture list quirk of fate would have it, it may feel a little unusual for him.

Just who will he support!

History

The teams last met in April when two goals from Karim Benzema, the second a 69^th minute penalty, sealed a 2-1 success after Nolito had briefly equalised for the hosts.That was in the corresponding fixture last season.

In Madrid last September, Real ran out 5-2 winners, thanks to a Benzema hat-trick and goals from Vinicius and Camavinga.

Celta had briefly led twice through Santi Mina and Franceo Cervi.

Real have won eight and drawn one of the last nine meetings, one of which was

in November 2018 when I covered a 4-2 victory for Real, at a time when the club was reeling from the recent sacking of Julen Lopetegui.

The last time Celta beat Los Blancos was in May 2014 when a double from Charles secured a 2-0 home win in an end of season encounter.

The last time they won in the Bernabeu was November 2006 when Jorge Larena netted the winner in a 2-1 Vigo victory.

Overall, Celta Vigo have 29 wins in the history of this fixture, compared to 66 Real wins and 17 draws.

Betting Tip

Without a win in nine against the reigning Spanish and European champions, how can I go against the SBOTOP La Liga 2022 betting odds?

Real are priced 1X2 @ 1.82 and Asian Handicap -1.00 @ 2.38 in contrast to Vigo 1X2 @ 4.20 and Asian Handicap +0.50 @ 2.12. The draw is on offer @ 3.55.

Goals have been commonplace in meetings between these sides, including some very one-sided encounters in favour of Real.

Among the options this time are Over 3.00 @ 2.20, Total Goal 0-1 @ 4.20, 2-3 @ 1.98, and 4-6 @ 2.93.

Another 2-1 success for Ancelotti’s men on Saturday night will pay out @ 7.00 with Correct Score.

That has tempted me but, instead, I am going to opt for Real to lead at the break.

 

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