Real Madrid vs Celta Vigo Preview: Team News & Prediction
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
Real Madrid are enduring a poor time of it as Los Blancos try and get themselves back into the title race in La Liga as they welcome Celta Vigo to the Bernabeu for a crucial clash this week.
Kick-off date/time: Sunday 4th May, 2025: UK – 1:00pm / US ET – 8:00am / US PT – 5:00am
How to watch on TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so Real Madrid vs Celta Vigo may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
How to watch online: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN+
Real Madrid Preview: Los Blancos’ struggles
Following on from their UEFA Champions League elimination at the quarter-final stage in April, Real Madrid have since suffered a 3-2 defeat to Barcelona in the final of the Copa del Rey last weekend in a fascinating and feisty encounter at La Cartuja in Seville.
Pedri opened the scoring for Barcelona in the 28th minute before Kylian Mbappe and Aurelien Tchouameni turned the game on its head in the second-half but a Ferran Torres equaliser took into extra-time whereby Jules Kounde scored a 116th minute winner for the Blaugrana.
Celta Vigo Preview: Silky Celta
Ever since the sacking of Rafa Benitez in March 2024, Celta Vigo have played an entertaining style of football that has the Galicians now sitting tucked inside the top seven and the UEFA Europa League qualification spots in La Liga under former B team coach Claudio Giraldez.
The visitors’ 33 matches have consisted of 99 goals so far this season and they earned themselves an impressive victory in their most recent outing as they defeated Villarreal by three goals to nil at Balaidos about ten days or so ago.
Real Madrid Team News: A few injuries
Real Madrid are dealing with a few injury issues ahead of the visit of Celta to the Bernabeu this weekend as Eder Militao, Dani Carvajal, Ferland Mendy and Eduardo Camavinga are all missing, whilst Antonio Rudiger is suspended following his antics in the cup final last weekend.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Courtois; Fede Valverde, Raul Asencio, Alaba, Fran Garcia; Tchouameni; Modric, Dani Ceballos; Bellingham; Vinicius Junior, Mbappe
Unavailable: Militao (Injured), Rudiger (Disciplinary), Dani Carvajal (Injured), Mendy (Injured), Camavinga (Injured)
Questionable:
Celta Vigo Team News: Couple of absentees
Celta are dealing with a couple of absentees ahead of their trip to the capital city this weekend as former Celtic centre-back Carl Starfelt is sidelined alongside forward Jonas El Abdellaoui for the Galicians.
Predicted XI (3-4-3): Vicente Guaita; Lago, Carlos Dominguez, Marcos Alonso; Hugo Alvarez, Damian Rodriguez, Fran Beltran, Oscar Mingueza; Fer Lopez, Borja Iglesias, Alfon
Unavailable: Starfelt (Injured), El Abdellaoui (Injured)
Questionable:
Real Madrid vs Celta Vigo Prediction
Prior to that aforementioned 3-0 defeat of Villarreal, Celta had threatened to do Madrid a massive favour in the title race when they went 3-1 up in Barcelona but eventually suffered a 4-3 defeat to the Blaugrana. Madrid have been a bit of a mess throughout the season and with Carlo Ancelotti expected to depart for Brazil at the end of this season, Celta will fancy their chances of causing Los Blancos issues, too. Madrid need to fight for the title so have to remain favourites at home but it should be an entertaining clash for the neutral.
Real Madrid vs Celta Vigo Tip: Real Madrid to win & both teams to score
