Celta de Vigo vs Real Sociedad - How Will Both Teams React To Last Week's Heavy Defeats?

Next Saturday, Celta de Vigo will entertain Real Sociedad at Los Balaídos for round 33 of Liga BBVA on a match of major importance to the home side.

Los Celestes career at La Liga has been definitely marked by inconsistency so far. The Galician team combines some quality performances with mediocre displays and that fact is jeopardising Celta’s presence at the Spanish top tier next season. Celta de Vigo are only six points above the relegation line and they will face some crucial tests, especially against other teams in danger of relegation, on the remaining matches of the season.

Luis Enrique’s side usually displays some interesting attacking football, with some interesting and elaborated movements in the last third of the pitch, but the team struggles when it comes to score goals. Celta’s forwards, Charles and Santi Mina, are far from being the goal scoring machine the team desperately needs, while the Brazilian journeyman Wellington, who arrived on loan from Spartak Moscow last January, does not seem to constitute a valid option for the Asturian manager.

Celta’s opponents, Real Sociedad have also suffered a heavy defeat last weekend at home against Real Madrid. The Basque team was hammered at Anoeta by an inspired Real Madrid’s side without Cristiano Ronaldo. The team’s head coach, Jagoba Arrasate, believes his side sucumbed after Real Madrid’s second goal and that they weren’t unable to bounce back from such setback.

The Basque team are on a less impressive run of matches, with three defeats on the last six matches. For his side’s travel to Balaídos, Jagoba Arrasate will probably still not be able to count on Xabi Prieto, a key element in the team’s midfield line, that is suffering from an ankle injury.

When both teams measured forces last November at Anoeta, the home side grabbed an important 4-3 win on an exciting football match with four goals from the versatile Mexican forward Carlos Vela. Next Saturday at Los Balaídos, Celta de Vigo will have the opportunity to avenge that defeat and to claim their second consecutive home win after beating Sevilla two weeks ago.

Celta de Vigo

Stats: W-10 L-16 D-6

Recent Form - WLLWL

Real Sociedad

Stats: W-14 L-10 D-8

Recent Form - WLWDL

Possible Line-ups

Celta de Vigo (4-3-3) - Yoel - Hugo Mallo - Cabral - Fontás - Jonny - Álex López - A. Fernández - Krohn-Dehli - Orellana - Nolito - Santi Mina

Real Sociedad (4-2-3-1) - Bravo - C. Martínez - I. Martínez - M. González- J.Ángel - Elustondo - Bergara - Griezmann - Canales - Vela - Agirretxe

Prediction

Celta de Vigo 2 Real Sociedad 1