Can Celta Vigo Deal Another Blow to Real Madrid?
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To say this season has not gone to plan for Zinedine Zidane and Real Madrid is an understatement. The defending La Liga and Champions League winners from last season started well enough and looked good in the early Super Cup matches of this campaign.
However, things have not gone so well since and they come into this match at Celta Vigo sitting 4th in the La Liga table, a position almost unheard of for this great club in recent years.
Their opponents in this match, Celta Vigo, start the weekend in 11th place in the league and are 6 points off both a Europa League place and the relegation zone. So, a win or defeat will have a big impact on which way their season goes at the start of 2018.
Trends show Celta Vigo have remained undefeated in five of their last seven games in all competitions. There have been two draws against the top club in Spain, Barcelona, with one coming at Barcelona in La Liga and the other more recently at home in the Copa Del Rey.
The draws against Barcelona show Celta Vigo can compete with the best on their day and the home fans will be hoping for a similar performance against Real Madrid on Sunday night.
Celta Vigo have won two of their last three home matches in La Liga, defeating Athletic Club 3-1 and Leganes 1-0. However, they have kept only two clean sheets in their last sixteen home La Liga matches.
Real Madrid make the trip to the Estadio de Balaidos having defeated Numancia 3-0 away from home in the Copa Del Rey on Thursday night. Despite being a match Real Madrid were expected to win with ease, they needed it following their 3-0 home defeat at the hands of Barcelona last time out in La Liga.
Trends show Real Madrid have lost only one of their last sixteen away games in La Liga but their recent form in general has been patchy.
Zidane’s team have won only three of their last six La Liga matches and in addition to the loss at home to Barcelona, there have been 0-0 draws at Atletico Madrid and Athletic Club and a 2-1 loss at Girona.
Interestingly, Real Madrid have failed to score in three of their last five La Liga games and this is an incredible record considering the long run they enjoyed scoring in every match.
Team news and Celta Vigo are hoping to welcome Jonny back into the team and he will play at left-back. Maxi Gomez is expected to partner Iago Aspas up-front in a 4-4-2 formation for the hosts.
Real Madrid are without Karim Benzema and Sergio Ramos who are injured. Dani Carvajal is suspended following his red card against Barcelona meaning Achraf Hakimi should play at right-back. Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale will lead the attack.
Real Madrid will start this match as favourites but with some key men missing at the back and form not as good as it should be, Celta Vigo will believe they can take something from this game. A draw with both teams scoring is a real possibility.
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