Sports Mole previews Sunday’s La Liga clash between Atletico Madrid and Celta Vigo, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Atletico Madrid will be bidding to strengthen their grip on fourth position in the La Liga table when they welcome Celta Vigo to Wanda Metropolitano on Sunday afternoon.
Diego Simeone‘s side are fourth in the division, six points ahead of fifth-placed Athletic Bilbao, while Celta sit 15th, eight points clear of the relegation zone after two wins in their last three matches.
Match preview
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Atletico still have work to do when it comes to claiming fourth spot in the table, but they are in a strong position heading into the final straight, sitting six points ahead of fifth-placed Athletic with four games left.
The gap could become three ahead of this match, as Athletic are at home to Osasuna on Saturday evening, but a victory for Simeone’s side would leave them in a commanding position.
The Red and Whites have been unable to launch a title challenge this season, sitting 20 points behind leaders Real Madrid, who have already been confirmed as the champions, while they are six points behind third-placed Barcelona and seven from Girona in second.
Atletico will enter this match off the back of successive wins over Athletic and Mallorca, and they will be bidding to record a 16th home league victory of the season this weekend.
Simeone’s side have collected 46 points from their 17 fixtures in front of their own fans, and they will be welcoming a Celta outfit that have only managed to pick up 14 points from their 17 games on their travels.
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Celta, meanwhile, have given their survival hopes a huge boost with two wins from their last three matches, beating Las Palmas and Villarreal either side of a 3-0 loss at Alaves.
Last weekend, the Sky Blues were involved in a five-goal thriller with Villarreal, and Tasos Douvikas‘s effort in the 82nd minute proved to be the winner for the hosts in Vigo.
Claudio Giraldez‘s side are now 15th in the table, eight points ahead of 18th-placed Cadiz, with the team in a very strong position to secure another campaign of top-flight Spanish football.
Celta have not actually managed to beat Atletico in La Liga since September 2018, losing each of their last five league fixtures with the capital giants, including a 3-0 defeat in the reverse match earlier this season.
The Vigo outfit did manage to claim a point away to Atletico in February 2021, though, and this is very much a free hit for the team, as not too many will be expecting them to pick up a positive result.
Atletico Madrid La Liga form:
Atletico Madrid form (all competitions):
Celta Vigo La Liga form:
Team News
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Atletico will welcome Antoine Griezmann back into their squad this weekend, with the France international serving a suspension against Mallorca.
Thomas Lemar and Marcos Paulo remain unavailable for selection, while Nahuel Molina will be absent due to the hamstring problem that he suffered last time out.
Memphis Depay has recovered from a muscular issue, though, and the Netherlands international is expected to return to the squad this weekend.
Head coach Simeone is expected to recall Griezmann and Rodrigo De Paul into his side, but Angel Correa should again get the nod over Alvaro Morata in the final third of the field.
As for Celta, Joseph Aidoo remains a long-term absentee due to a serious knee injury, while Carlos Dotor and Renato Tapia are again expected to be unavailable for selection.
Douvikas scored the winner off the bench against Villarreal last time out, but he is not expected to be considered for a start here, with Iago Aspas and Jorgen Strand Larsen set to be joined by Williot Swedberg in the final third of the field.
Larsen has scored 12 times in 33 appearances in La Liga during the 2023-24 campaign, and Celta are believed to be bracing themselves for offers for the 24-year-old during the summer market.
Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:
Oblak; Witsel, Gimenez, Azpilicueta; Riquelme, De Paul, Barrios, Koke, Lino; Griezmann, Correa
Celta Vigo possible starting lineup:
Guaita; Manquillo, Starfelt, Jailson; Mingueza, Rodriguez, Beltran, Alvarez; Aspas, Larsen, Swedberg
We say: Atletico Madrid 1-0 Celta Vigo
Celta’s recent form has been impressive, and they will enter this match in good shape, but Atletico’s work is not done when it comes to finishing inside the top four, and Simeone’s side are so strong at home. We are not expecting a classic, but the capital side should navigate their way to an important three points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
