7M - La Liga Preview: Valencia vs Celta Vigo - prediction, team news, lineups

Valencia prepare to host Celta Vigo at Estadio de Mestalla this Sunday afternoon as both sides look to strengthen their positions in the La Liga standings. Los Che sit 12th with a seven-point buffer above the relegation zone, while the visitors occupy sixth place, three points clear of seventh-placed Real Sociedad.

Match preview

Valencia have shown notable improvement under Carlos Corberan, securing victories in six of their last 10 league fixtures. Their most recent outing saw a convincing 2-0 triumph over Sevilla, with Hugo Duro and Largie Ramazani finding the net. At home, Los Che have been particularly resilient, accumulating 23 points from 14 matches and suffering just three defeats. Their defensive organization at Mestalla has been key, conceding only 15 league goals on home soil during the 2025-26 campaign.

Despite suffering a heavy 4-1 loss to Celta earlier this season, Valencia did manage a 2-1 victory in last term's corresponding fixture. Historically, Los Che have struggled against this opponent, winning just one of their last six encounters. However, their current momentum suggests they are well-positioned to challenge for a positive result.

Celta Vigo arrive with a solid record of 10 wins, 11 draws and eight defeats from 29 league matches, totaling 41 points. Claudio Giraldez's side enter this fixture following a narrow 4-3 home defeat to Alaves, though they successfully advanced to the Europa League quarter-finals with a 2-0 away win over Lyon on March 19. That European commitment adds scheduling pressure, with a first-leg clash against Freiburg in Germany scheduled for April 9.

The Sky Blues boast the third-strongest away record in La Liga this season, collecting 24 points from 14 road fixtures. Only Barcelona and Real Madrid have gathered more points away from home. Defensively, Celta share the league's best away record, having conceded just 14 goals on the road, matching Real Madrid's tally.

Team News

Valencia will be without Mouctar Diakhaby, Dimitri Foulquier, Copete and Julen Agirrezabala due to injury, while Filip Ugrinic remains a fitness doubt. Largie Ramazani impressed in the victory over Sevilla and is expected to start in an advanced wide role. Hugo Duro, who has netted nine times for Valencia this season, is set to lead the line once again.

For Celta Vigo, Matias Vecino and Miguel Roman are ruled out through injury, and Iago Aspas is a major doubt for Sunday's contest. Ferran Jutgla arrives in excellent form, having scored twice against Alaves to take his tally to four goals in three appearances. He is likely to feature prominently in the attacking third alongside Borja Iglesias, who has contributed 15 goals and three assists across 39 appearances in all competitions this term.

Valencia possible starting lineup:
Dimitrievski; Nunez, Comert, Tarrega, Gaya; Rioja, Almeida, Rodriguez, Guerra, Ramazani; Duro

Celta Vigo possible starting lineup:
Radu; Alonso, Starfelt, Rodriguez; Carreira, Moriba, Sotelo, Mingueza; Swedberg, Iglesias, Jutgla

Prediction: Valencia 1-1 Celta Vigo

This fixture presents a compelling tactical battle. Celta's impressive away form and defensive solidity on the road make them difficult to overcome, yet Valencia's strong home record and recent upturn in results cannot be ignored. With both sides managing injury concerns and Celta facing upcoming European commitments, a tightly contested match is anticipated.
We predict a cautious affair with limited clear-cut chances, ultimately ending in a stalemate.