Can the Galician giants brush aside a desperate Levante to keep their European fantasy alive?
The stage is set at Estadio de Balaídos this Tuesday as Celta Vigo welcomes a struggling Levante side for a high-stakes La Liga Matchday 36 clash. With only three games left in the season, both teams are fighting for their lives—albeit at opposite ends of the table.
Match Preview: The Hunt for the Top Five
Celta Vigo is currently flying high in 6th place with 50 points. After a rocky patch, Claudio Giráldez’s men have rediscovered their spark, coming off back-to-back victories—including a stunning 1-0 away win against Atletico Madrid. With Rayo Vallecano’s recent success in Europe securing an extra Champions League spot for La Liga, Celta is now within touching distance of the top five.
On the other hand, Levante is rooted in 19th place, gasping for air in the relegation zone. Their recent 3-2 victory over Osasuna was a lifeline, but they remain two points adrift of safety. While their home form has been decent, their record on the road is abysmal; the “Granotes” haven’t won an away league game since early January, taking just two points from their last 21 available on travel.
Team News & Predicted Lineups
Celta will be without Miguel Roman, who is sidelined for the season, along with Carl Starfelt and Matias Vecino. However, they welcome the return of veteran Iago Aspas, who could feature from the start to provide that legendary clinical edge.
Levante’s Luis Castro faces his own headaches, missing Unai Elgezabal, Carlos Romero, and Ivan Romero due to injury. The good news is the return of Kervin Arriaga, who is back from suspension to bolster the midfield.
• Celta Vigo Predicted XI: Radu; Rodríguez, Lago, Alonso; Núñez, Moriba, López, Mingueza; Durán, Iglesias, Swedberg.
• Levante Predicted XI: Ryan; Toljan, Moreno, De la Fuente, Sánchez; Martínez, García, Rey; Tunde, Olasagasti, Espí.
Key Stats to Watch
• H2H Dominance: Celta Vigo is unbeaten in their last five meetings against Levante.
• Home Comforts? Despite their high ranking, Celta has only won one of their last five home matches.
• Goal Machines: Borja Iglesias has scored in three straight La Liga matches for Celta, while Carlos Espí leads Levante with 9 goals this season.
• Second Half Drama: Over 0.5 goals have been scored in the second half in 24 of Celta’s last 26 matches.
Celta Vigo vs Levante Prediction
Levante will fight like cornered animals, and their recent comeback win shows they still have spirit. However, their “travel sickness” is hard to ignore. Celta Vigo has superior technical quality and the momentum of that massive win in Madrid. Expect a tight first half, but the quality of Borja Iglesias and a potential cameo from Iago Aspas should see the hosts through.
Final Score Prediction: Celta Vigo 2-1 Levante
