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Celta Vigo logo
La Liga | Gameweek 18
Dec 21, 2024 at 3.15pm UK
Estadio de Balaidos
Real Sociedad logo

Celta Vigo
vs.
Real Sociedad

Preview: Celta Vigo vs. Real Sociedad - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's La Liga clash between Celta Vigo and Real Sociedad, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Real Sociedad will be aiming to return to winning ways in La Liga when they travel to Celta Vigo on Saturday afternoon.

The Basque outfit drew 0-0 with Las Palmas last time out, and they currently sit seventh in the La Liga table, boasting 25 points from 17 matches, while 13th-placed Celta suffered a 1-0 defeat to Sevilla in their last match.


Match preview

Celta Vigo's Borja Iglesias celebrates with Oscar Mingueza after scoring on August 26, 2024© Imago

Celta have been an entertaining watch in La Liga this season, scoring 25 times and conceding 28 in their 17 matches, with a total of 21 points leaving them in 13th position in the table.

The Vigo outfit have won six, drawn three and lost eight of their 17 league matches this term, and they will enter this contest off the back of a 1-0 loss to Sevilla, with Manu Bueno netting the winner in the 65th minute of that fixture.

Claudio Giraldez's side have been impressive on home soil this season, picking up 17 points from their nine games in front of their own fans, recording five wins in the process.

Celta have finished 13th in their last two campaigns, but they will believe that a top-half spot is achievable this term considering the strength of their squad, particularly in the forward areas.

The Sky Blues have not actually beaten Real Sociedad in the league since June 2020, though, and they suffered a 1-0 defeat in the corresponding fixture during the 2023-24 campaign.

Real Sociedad head coach Imanol Alguacil pictured on November 3, 2024© Imago

Real Sociedad, meanwhile, saw a five-game winning run in all competitions brought to a halt last weekend, when they played out a goalless draw with Las Palmas in Spain's top flight.

Imanol Alguacil's side are currently seventh in the La Liga table, boasting a record of seven wins, four draws and six defeats from their 17 matches, which has brought them 25 points - the same as eighth-placed Osasuna.

The Basque team are only two points behind fifth-placed Villarreal on the same number of games, and their success this term has been built on a strong defensive record, conceding just 11 times in their 17 matches, which is the joint-best record in the division alongside second-placed Atletico Madrid.

Real Sociedad have struggled down the other end, netting just 16 times, which is the joint-fifth worst attacking record, and that will need to improve in order to be serious challengers for a European finish in the second half of the season.

The White and Blues, who finished sixth last season, actually have the fourth-best away record in La Liga this term, picking up 14 points from eight matches, while they have incredibly only conceded twice on their travels this season.

Celta Vigo La Liga form:


Celta Vigo form (all competitions):


Real Sociedad La Liga form:


Real Sociedad form (all competitions):



Team News

Real Sociedad's Martin Zubimendi celebrates after scoring on August 18, 2024© Imago

Celta will be without the services of Sergio Carreira, Jailson and Javi Manquillo for Saturday's contest, while Damian Rodriguez, Joseph Aidoo and Mihailo Ristic are major doubts.

Jonathan Bamba and Borja Iglesias are among the attacking options to start on the bench against Sevilla, but Giraldez is likely to resist the temptation to make changes to his XI.

Iago Aspas is still going strong for Celta at the age of 37, scoring six goals and registering three assists in 16 La Liga appearances this season, and the experienced forward should earn another start here.

As for Real Sociedad, Aritz Elustondo, Arsen Zakharyan and Hamari Traore will miss the contest through injury, while Jon Pacheco is a major doubt for the visitors this weekend.

Mikel Oyarzabal should again lead the line for the Basque outfit, while Takefusa Kubo and Sergio Gomez are set to continue in the wide positions despite the team's attacking struggles against Las Palmas.

Ander Barrenetxea and Sheraldo Becker should again be the forward options off the bench, while Orri Oskarsson is available for selection once again after a recent spell on the sidelines.


Celta Vigo possible starting lineup:
Guaita; J Rodriguez, Starfelt, Alonso; Minqueza, Beltran, Moriba, Alvarez; Aspas, Duran, Swedberg

Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:
Remiro; Aramburu, Zubeldia, Aguerd, J Lopez; Kubo, Mendez, Zubimendi, Sucic, Gomez; Oyarzabal


SM words green background

We say: Celta Vigo 1-1 Real Sociedad

Two of the last three La Liga meetings between the two sides have finished level, and we are expecting a close match on Saturday. Real Sociedad will be looking for the win to boost their European hopes, but Celta have been strong in front of their own fans this season, and we are expecting the points to be shared this weekend.



For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


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Written by
Matt Law

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Who will win Saturday's La Liga clash between Celta Vigo and Real Sociedad?

Celta Vigo
Draw
Real Sociedad
Celta Vigo
0.0%
Draw
0.0%
Real Sociedad
0.0%
0
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona18122450203038
2Atletico MadridAtletico17115131112038
3Real Madrid17114237162137
4Athletic Bilbao1896327161133
5Villarreal177642928127
6Mallorca188371821-327
7Real Sociedad177461611525
8Osasuna176742225-325
9Real BetisBetis176652021-124
10GironaGirona176472325-222
11Sevilla176471823-522
12Rayo Vallecano175661920-121
13Celta Vigo176382528-321
14Las PalmasLas Palmas175482227-519
15Leganes174671523-818
16Getafe173771114-316
17AlavesAlaves174491928-916
18Espanyol1743101629-1315
19Real ValladolidValladolid1733111234-2212
20Valencia162591424-1011


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