Foot & Soccer Soccer Match Reports, Football News
As the La Liga season approaches its climax, Celta Vigo will host Athletic Bilbao in a pivotal match at Abanca-Balaidos on Wednesday, May 15, 2024.
This encounter could have significant implications for both teams, with Celta Vigo fighting for survival and Athletic Bilbao aiming to secure European competition next season.
Current Form
Celta
Celta Vigo enters the match in a precarious 18th position, having accumulated 34 points from 35 games.
Despite their struggles, they have shown resilience at home, winning three of their last four matches at Balaidos.
A victory against Athletic Bilbao could provide a substantial boost to their hopes of avoiding relegation, especially as they still hold a five-point lead over 19th-placed Cadiz.
Bilbao
On the other hand, Athletic Bilbao sits comfortably in fifth place, having gathered 61 points this season.
Their recent form has been a mix of draws and a few losses, with their last five matches yielding only one win.
Despite this, they remain a strong side, especially defensively, having conceded only 35 goals this season—a record bettered only by the champions, Real Madrid.
Team News
The head-to-head encounter earlier this season saw a thrilling 4-3 victory for Athletic Bilbao at San Mames.
While Athletic will miss key players due to injuries, including Oihan Sancet and Gorka Guruzeta, their depth could still see them through.
Notably, Inaki Williams and Asier Villalibre, who helped secure a draw in their last match against Osasuna, will be crucial in their attack.
Celta will be without Mihailo Ristic and Joseph Aidoo due to injuries, but the return of Carles Perez and Williot Swedberg could provide them with additional options. Iago Aspas remains a vital player for Celta, having scored three goals in the last two home games.
Prediction
Given both teams’ recent form and the high stakes involved, this match is likely to be closely contested.
Athletic Bilbao’s strong defensive record and the urgency for Celta Vigo to secure points…
Source link : https://www.footballcritic.com/news/celta-vigo-vs-athletic-bilbao-prediction/4740
Author : [email protected] (Jake Skudder)
Publish date : 2024-05-15 09:24:04
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