Celta take on the visitors Athletic in the round 16 match of Spanish LaLiga. The match will be played on Sunday, December 14th at Estadio de Balaídos (Vigo).
Celta are trying to build momentum again. The Galicians have always had ambitions. However, even Benítez failed to turn things around, leaving the team under serious relegation threat after his swift dismissal. His replacement, Giráldez, not only avoided a drop to the Segunda División but also collected 55 points last season, which was the seventh-best total. That result earned a place in the Europa League. There, the Spaniards have looked competitive, although there have been unpleasant setbacks such as the defeat to Ludogorets. In La Liga, they recorded seven draws, all ending 1–1, along with a couple of defeats, and only from late October did results improve sharply. Yes, they lost 0–1 to a direct rival, Espanyol. But in the previous round they produced a sensational 2–0 victory over Real Madrid, despite the giant’s own issues. They also progressed in the cup, although they needed a penalty shootout to get through. Recent domestic results suggest that Celta are growing in confidence and becoming more consistent at home. The win over a top opponent has clearly boosted belief and could mark a turning point in their season.
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Athletic are once again playing under Valverde, and this spell has been successful, as they lifted the Copa del Rey in 2024 for the first time in 40 years. After that, reaching the Europa League semifinals, they finished fourth in La Liga. The new season started with wins in August, but autumn brought plenty of problems. This was especially evident in the Champions League, where, after returning to the competition, the Bilbao club mostly lost, managing to beat only Qarabag. Even against Slavia Prague, they were held to a goalless draw, and the same scoreline followed against PSG, which is hardly a step toward the playoffs. Domestically, victories came mainly against clearly weaker newly promoted sides such as Oviedo and Levante. However, after a heavy defeat to Real Madrid, they managed to beat their old rivals Atlético 1–0. That result could help stabilize their league form after a difficult run of matches. Still, overall performances suggest Athletic are searching for balance and consistency rather than playing at their peak.
The Basque side have won four of the last five meetings, with one defeat, which came at Balaídos. Few goals are expected here, as both teams tend to play pragmatically. The recommended bet is total under 2.5 goals.
Prediction for the match: Under 2.5 scored goals.
