Celta Vigo vs Osasuna Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Celta Vigo will once again be expected to be entertaining this season as the Galicians welcome Osasuna across to Balaidos on the opening day.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Premier Sports / USA – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so any game may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
How to watch online: UK – Premier Player / USA – ESPN+
Celta Vigo preview: Need to sustain it over a season
Last season, Celta Vigo faded towards the end of the campaign as they missed out on a top five finish and UEFA Champions League qualification, while also being beaten by Freiburg in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa League.
The Galicians have maintained the services of Claudio Giraldez, with the former B team coach having implemented an entertaining style of football that saw their 38 games in La Liga consist of 111 goals last season, with only six teams scoring more than them and only two of the rest of the top half conceding more often.
Osasuna preview: Another fresh start
Osasuna have flirted with European football on quite a few occasions in the last few years and that was the case again last season before a second-half of the season collapse saw them drift towards a relegation battle that they didn't survive until the final day of the campaign.
They have since parted ways with manager Alessio Lisci, replacing him with Luis Miguel Ramis. He recently led minnows Burgos to seventh place in the second-tier, narrowly missing out on the play-offs but earning their best ever finish as a club in their history. The big piece of business this summer has seen them sell Victor Munoz to Liverpool.
Celta Vigo team news: Javi Galan a doubt
Javi Galan is expected to be a key man for Celta this season after joining but he has sustained a thigh injury over the summer, with Pablo Duran the hosts’ only confirmed absentee.
Predicted XI (3-4-3): Bayindir; Javi Rodriguez, Faye, Marcos Alonso; Sergio Carreira, Ilaix Moriba, Aleix Febas, Javi Galan; Swedberg, Borja Iglesias, Ferran Jutgla
Unavailable: Pablo Duran (Injured)
Questionable: Javi Galan (Injured), Matias Vecino (Injured)
Osasuna team news: Couple of doubts
Raul Moro enjoyed some impressive cameos after joining from Ajax in January but he has picked up a foot injury this week and he is now a doubt alongside defender Valentin Rosier.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Sergio Herrera; Iker Benito, Boyomo, Alejandro Catena, Abel Bretones; Lucas Torro, Jon Moncayola; Ruben Garcia, Iker Munoz, Aimar Oroz; Budimir
Unavailable:
Questionable: Rosier (Injured), Raul Moro (Injured)
Celta Vigo vs Osasuna prediction
Whether or not Luis Miguel Ramis can replicate his overachievement with Burgos at Osasuna remains to be seen and is up for debate. His squad does appear to be weaker than it was when he was pointed, though, and that will hurt him. Celta endured some frustrating results at Balaidos last season but they will fancy themselves to get off to a better start this time around and begin racking up up the points before the European fixture congestion hits.
Celta Vigo vs Osasuna tip: Celta Vigo to win
