Celta de Vigo vs Valladolid Prediction - Will Los Celestes Keep Their Good Recent Home Form?

Next Monday, a motivated Celta de Vigo will take on a relegation threatened Valladolid at Los Balaídos for round 35 of Liga BBVA on a match that can finally bring some relief to the Galician team and to the supporter: if they win, the ghost of relegation will be finally swept away.

After last weekend’s splendid win, Celta de Vigo are almost safe from relegation, as they’ve reached the 40 points mark at the league, which is often seen as the “safe harbour” for sides battling against relegation. Luis Enrique’s boys put a vintage display against an Almeria side thirsty for points and grabbed a solid 4-2 win, thanks to goals from Charles, Orellana and two from Nolito. Celta de Vigo showed, as they have several times before, that they know how to play attacking and quality football and demonstrated once again that they far more dangerous when playing away from home than when at the Balaídos this season.

During this week, Celta’s manager Luis Enrique was said to be on Barcelona’s shortlist to replace Tata Martino next season, but on a recent interview, the Celestes’ board expressed their will to hold on to the Asturian manager at Los Balaídos next season in order for him to continue the work he started this term.

For next Monday’s match against Valladolid, Luis Enrique is not yet certain if he will be able to count on the Spanish centre midfielder Álex López and on the Argentinian wide midfielder Augusto Fernández, who are experiencing some physical problems.

As for Valladolid, the Balaídos’ match next Monday is of major importance. The team is currently fourth from bottom and have the same points as Getafe, who are already below the relegation line, but who still have one game in hand (nevertheless, that match is against Real Madrid and it might not be the ideal match to grab the points Valladolid desperately need).

The Pucela are on a three-match undefeated run and are certainly looking at Los Balaídos match as good opportunity to extend that streak. Valladolid’s form away from home this season is far from being impressive, as they have only won one match so far.

For next Monday’s match, Juan Ignacio Mártinez will probably only not be able to rely on the contribution of the Spanish midfielder Víctor Pérez, who is sidelined due to injury.

When both sides met at Nuevo José Zorrilla back in December, the home side smashed Celta 3-0, with a fantastic hat-trick by the Spanish sharpshooter Javi Guerra. Next Monday, nevertheless, things might be different as Celta look far more confident now than they were back in December and they will also certainly want to avenge such a heavy defeat.

Celta de Vigo

Stats: W-11 L-16 D-7

Recent Form - LWLDW

Valladolid

Stats: W-6 L-13 D-14

Recent Form - DLWDD

Possible Line-ups

Celta de Vigo (4-3-3) - Yoel - Hugo Mallo - Cabral - Fontás - Jonny - Oubiña - Krohn-Dehli - Rafinha - Nolito - Charles

Valladolid (4-4-2) – Jaime - Rukavina - Valiente - J. Rueda - Peña - Rossi - Rubio - Larsson - Óscar - J. Guerra - Manucho

Prediction

Celta de Vigo 2 Valladolid 0