Next Saturday, 30th of August 2014, the La Liga newcomers Córdoba will entertain a highly motivated Celta de Vigo at the Estadio Nuevo Arcángel for the second round of Liga BBVA.

The Galician team had a fantastic start at La Liga this season, as they defeated Getafe at Los Balaídos by 3-1 and put up a fairly quality performance to go along with. Three goals, one for each of Celta’s forward line men (Nolito, Orellana and Larrivey) were enough to annihilate a Getafe side that also presented some quality and that somehow threatened the Galician side dominance when Sammir scored on the 62nd minute of the match.

Quality ball possession, fast and synchronized attacking movements and passion seem to be the trademarks of the new Celta from Eduardo Berizzo, which left supporters at Los Balaídos purring for more.

Berizzo experimented with a highly versatile 4-3-3 with Borja Fernández, Álex López and Krohn-Dehli forming the midfield triangle and with Orellana, Nolito and the newcomer Larrivey in the attacking trident. The biggest surprise on Celta’s line-up was probably the absence of Hugo Mallo, who was replaced on the right side of the defence by Jonny.

For the match against Córdoba, Berizzo will still not able to count on the contribution of Borja Oubiña, who is currently sidelined due to injury.

As for Córdoba, the Andalusia team had an interesting start at La Liga, despite being defeat at Santiago Bernabéu by the all-powerful Real Madrid. After a long absence from the Spanish football top tier, Córdoba appeared at Madrid’s football cathedral in great style as they managed to refrain Real Madrid’s attacking ambition for large periods of the match. Los Califas looked the European champions right in the eye, as their boss, former Barcelona’s favourite Albert Ferrer, experimented with a rigid 4-2-3-1 style that somehow fitted into Real’s poorly inspired 4-3-3 system.

Córdoba experienced some difficulties during the first-half, but as soon as Albert Ferrer brought in Fede and Fidel for and during the second-half, the Andalusian side looked far more dangerous and caused Real Madrid some nervousness that only disappeared when Cristiano Ronaldo scored a distant scorcher on the dying moments of the match.

The last time both teams went head-to head at Estadio Nuevo Arcángel was back in 2012, when they were playing at Liga Adelante and the match ended in a boring goalless draw. Although playing away from home, Celta de Vigo are to be considered favourites for the next Saturday’s match especially because of their excellent recent performances.

Córdoba

Stats: W-1 L-2 D-2

Recent Form - DDLLW

Celta

Stats: W-4 L-0 D-1

Recent Form - WWWWD

Possible Line-ups

Córdoba (4-2-3-1) - J. Carlos - Pantic - Gunino - López - Crespo - Garai - Rossi - Fede - López Silva - Fidel - Xisco

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

Prediction

Córdoba 1 Celta de Vigo 2