Celta Vigo vs Levante – News and Probable Lineups

Celta Vigo will aim to secure their place in Champions League football as they take on Levante at Balaidos this Tuesday.

On the other hand, the visitors are looking for their second consecutive victory to enhance their chances of surviving in La Liga.

Match overview

Celta holds the sixth position in La Liga, having won 13 games, drawn 11, and lost 11 out of 35 matches, placing them in a solid position to improve on last season’s seventh-place finish.

Currently, the Galician club is in a strong position to secure back-to-back seasons of Europa League football, as they aspire for their first Champions League qualification since participating in the 2003-04 tournament.

Following consecutive wins, Celta’s hopes of finishing in fifth place have risen, which would grant them entry to the Champions League, particularly after Rayo Vallecano’s second-leg triumph over Strasbourg secured an additional place for La Liga in UEFA’s elite competition.

Claudio Giraldez’s team achieved a 3-1 victory at home against Elche, followed by a hard-fought 1-0 win against Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano on Saturday.

Borja Iglesias’s exquisite chipped shot was sufficient to deliver Celta their first league victory against Atletico away from home since June 2007, moving them within four points of fifth-placed Real Betis ahead of their concluding three fixtures against Levante, Athletic Bilbao, and Sevilla.

Celta might be optimistic about adding another three points on Tuesday, having won three of the last four encounters with Levante, which includes a dramatic 2-1 win in the reverse fixture last November, thanks to a stoppage-time goal from Miguel Roman.

However, entering matchday 36, they possess the second-worst home record in the league, accumulating just 20 points from 17 La Liga matches at Balaidos.

In contrast, Levante is in a battle to avoid relegation, with only two points separating them from safety as they head into their midweek match in Galicia.

Recently, the Granotes rebounded from a substantial 5-1 loss to Villarreal with a thrilling 3-2 win over Osasuna on Friday.

Victor Garcia netted two goals within two minutes to equalize after an own goal and an Ante Budimir strike, with Osasuna’s goalkeeper Sergio Herrera receiving a red card just before half time for deliberately handling the ball outside the area.

Despite having this numerical advantage, Luis Castro’s side was unable to capitalize until Karl Etta Eyong scored in the 90th minute, marking his first league goal since October, securing a fourth straight home win for his team.

While Levante remains unbeaten in their last six matches at Estadi Cuitat de Valencia, they have only managed to collect two points from their last seven away games since their victory over Sevilla in January, which raises concerns for a team with two away fixtures remaining in their final three matches.

Additionally, they haven’t triumphed in their past five games against Celta, following an earlier streak of three consecutive victories between February 2019 and July 2020.

They can take solace in the fact that they have not lost in three of their last four visits to Balaidos (W2, D1).

Team News

The hosts, in pursuit of Champions League qualification, will be missing the injured trio of Carl Starfelt, Miguel Roman, and Matias Vecino.

Javi Rueda has returned from a one-match suspension and could appear as the right wing-back in Tuesday’s fixture.

Hugo Sotelo, Sergio Carreira, and Iago Aspas are also viable candidates to be included in the starting XI should Giraldez decide to rotate his lineup.

For the visitors, Unai Elgezabal, Carlos Romero, and Ivan Romero will remain sidelined due to injuries.

Midfielder Kevin Arriaga is available for selection after serving a one-match suspension for an accumulation of yellow cards.

Kevin Brugue, who came on as a substitute during Friday’s match, is also vying for his first start since returning from a lengthy injury layoff.

Celta Vigo probable starting XI:

Radu; Rodriguez, Lago, Alonso; Rueda, Moriba, Sotelo, Carreira; Aspas, Alvarez; Churches

Levante probable starting XI:

Ryan; Toljan, Dela, Moreno, Sanchez; Olasagasti, Martinez, Arriaga; Garcia, Brugue, Espi

Celta has found it challenging to deliver their best performances at home this season, but they managed to secure three points in their latest home encounter against Elche. Considering they will be facing a side that has suffered five defeats in their last seven away matches, the hosts are likely to claim victory.