Villarreal take on the visitors Celta Vigo in the round 18 match of Spanish LaLiga. The match will be played on Wednesday, December 20th at Estadio de la Ceramica (Villarreal).
Regulars in the European competition zone, clad in yellow jerseys, are significantly underperforming this current season. The team is currently more than ten points adrift of the Champions League zone, while they hold only a four-point cushion above the relegation zone. Not long ago, Villarreal won the Europa League and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League. Now, in the national championship, they have suffered 9 defeats in 17 matches. However, concerning the bet on the match against Celta, we are not interested in how poorly the team is performing. Instead, we can focus on their goal difference in La Liga: 23-33 in 17 rounds. These are favorable numbers for a bet on Over 2.5 goals. The Submarines don't seem to have forgotten how to score, but they appear very unreliable in defense. In eight out of the last ten league matches, Villarreal both delighted their opponents and conceded goals themselves. The opponents didn't matter, whether it was Real Madrid (1-4), Atletico Madrid (1-3), Osasuna (3-1), Sevilla (1-1), or Las Palmas (1-2).
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One wouldn't want Villarreal to follow in the footsteps of Celta. The team from Vigo, not too long ago, was considered a strong mid-table La Liga side, competing in European tournaments. However, in recent years, their fate has shifted towards the battle for survival. Last season, for instance, the Sky Blues secured their place in La Liga only in the final round. Currently, they are situated in the relegation zone. Nevertheless, it seems that the Celts have shown signs of improvement lately. In the last four rounds, they earned 6 points without a single defeat, while in the previous 13 league matches, they gained only 7 points. Whether Celta will secure points in this match is uncertain, but they are at least capable of scoring a goal. Compared to Villarreal, the team from Vigo both scores and concedes fewer goals. However, they are not averse to playing Over 2.5 goals. Recent examples include defeats to Athletic Bilbao (3-4) and Las Palmas (1-2), as well as draws with Cadiz (1-1), Sevilla (1-1), and Getafe (2-2).
Both teams have disappointed their fans so far, occupying 14th and 18th places in the table, respectively—certainly not what the supporters of the Yellow Submarine and the Celts anticipated by the middle of the season. The scale of the Villarreal and Celta face-off could tilt in either direction. Therefore, avoiding the outcome, a straightforward bet on both teams to score seems sensible. Both teams have played very unreliably in defense this season, and clean sheets from their goalkeepers are rare. They also win infrequently, meaning the desire to win will be immense for both the hosts and the guests. I believe that at least once, the opponents will disappoint each other. Finally, it's worth noting that the Both Teams to Score bet played in four out of the last five encounters between Villarreal and Celta.
Prediction for the match: Both teams to score – yes.
