Next Friday, 19th of December 2014, a Celta de Vigo desperate for wins will measure forces with Almeria at Los Balaídos for round 16 of the Spanish Liga BBVA, on a match of the utmost importance for both sides for fairly distinct reasons: Celta need a win to continue the good campaign they started early this season and Almeria need the three points in order to try to escape the nightmarish relegation zone.

Celta de Vigo are definitely going through a very negative streak when it comes to results, since, although they keep failing to win their respective matches, they keep displaying some quality football and overall pleasing performances. Last Saturday night at Málaga it was no different. Los Celestes were by far the best team but they failed to materialize their dominance into goals.

In fact, Celta failed to score a single goal over their last four La Liga’s matches and that must be something that is surely troubling Eduardo Berizzo’s sleep at night. The Argentinian manager, who has been doing a good job at Celta, implemented some changes in the team’s attacking line last Saturday by bringing in Charles and Santi Mina for the places of Nolito and Larrivey, who curiously have been the most impressive Celta’s players so far this season.

Next Friday’s clash against Almeria is a good opportunity for the Galician team to return to wins and restore the team’s motivations levels, which have been repeatedly and severely pinched with their recent bad results. Before that complicated match, Celta will have another decisive test with Las Palmas at Los Balaídos for the Copa del Rey, a clash that they need to win if they want to march on in the competition after their defeat at the Canary Islands last week.

As for Almeria, although they are struggling down in the table, they have put up some very interesting performances so far this season. Last Friday, they sucumbed to Real Madrid at Andalusia, but despite the heavy lost, they made a very good image of themselves.

Next round’s clash at Los Balaídos, will be Juan Ignacio Martinez’ debut at the helm of Los Rojiblancos after they parted ways with Francisco Rodríguez before the match against the current European champions.

Despite Celta’s less impressive moments, it is fair to name them as favourites for the next Friday’s clash, but they will certainly need to dig deep if they want to snatch the three points.

Celta

Stats: W-0 L-5 D-0

Recent Form - LLLLL

Almeria

Stats: W-1 L-3 D-1

Recent Form - LLWLD

Possible Line-ups

Celta de Vigo (4-3-3) - Sérgio Álvarez - Jonny - Fontas - Gomez - Mallo - Augusto - Radoja - Krohn Dehli - Orellana - Nolito - Larrivey

Almeria (4-2-3-1) - Ruben - Michel - Navarro - Trujillo - Dubarbier - Verza - Teye - Zongo - Mendez - Wellington -  Hemed

Prediction

Celta de Vigo 2 Almeria 1