Next Friday, 24th of October 2014, Celta de Vigo will entertain Levante at Los Balaídos for round nine of the Spanish Liga BBVA, on a match that might pose a good opportunity for the home side to return to wins after two consecutive rounds without clinching the three points.

Some feared the worst when Celta sucumbed at home to Villarreal two weeks ago, but Los Celestes lifted their heads up and granted an important point from their visit to San Mamés last Saturday.

The Galician team experienced some difficulties against Athletic Bilbao last weekend as the Basque team put up probably their best performance of this season. Athletic scored early in the match, thanks to an Aduriz’s goal from the penalty spot and after missing several clamorous goal chances, it was Celta who snatched the equalizer by the usual suspect Nolito on the 72th minute. Los Celestes presented their usual 4-3-3 system with their dangerous front trident composed by Nolito, Larrivey and Orellana, which has already proven to have the ability of causing absolute mayhem in any defence line this season. Former Barcelona B’s man, Manuel Agudo Durán, best known as Nolito, is once again proving to be of vital importance to the team’s strategy and has already scored five goals so far this season.

Toto Berizzo’s work at the helm of the Galician team continues to impress even the sceptic pundits who thought that Celta would fall into pieces after Luis Enrique’s departure last Summer.

Next Friday’s match will be of the utmost importance for Los Celestes, who need to return to wins in order for the team to maintain their motivation levels sky high.

As for Levante, the new season start is being far from impressive with the team struggling at the bottom of the table, having just collected five points from eight matches. Last Saturday, the team from the Comunidad Valenciana was trashed at home (0-5) by the all-powerful Real Madrid led by an inspired Cristiano Ronaldo, who has already scored 15 goals so far this season.

Levante have already conceded 20 goals in just eight matches and all the team’s problems led to the sacking of their manager José Luis Mendilibar, who only arrived at the Comunidad Valenciana team this season, but didn’t seem able to turn the team’s fortunes around. Les Granotes have not yet won a single match at home and their firepower is also fairly modest, with just four goals scored in eight matches.

Given their very positive moment this season, Celta have to be considered firm favourites for the next Friday’s match as Levante don’t seem capable of causing a major upset at Los Balaídos.

Celta

Stats: W-2 L-1 D-2

Recent Form - DLWWD

Levante

Stats: W-1 L-2 D-2

Recent Form - LDDLW

Possible Line-ups

Celta de Vigo (4-3-3) - Sérgio Álvarez - Planas - Fontàs - Cabral - Mallo - Álex Lopez - Radoja - Krohn Dehli - Orellana - Nolito - Larrivey

Levante (4-4-2) - Mariño - López - Rodas - Juanfran - I. López - Diop - Camarasa - Garcia - Morales - Gavilan - Casadesus

Prediction

Celta de Vigo 2 Levante 0