Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Spanish La Liga match
At the end of 2024, the commendable performances of Rayo Vallecano and Celta have allowed both teams to pull away from the relegation zone, with both teams hovering just below the top 8. It seems that in the opening match of the round, the competitors will not take any risks — nobody wants to improve the position of their neighbor in the table.
Rayo Vallecano
Rayo Vallecano went through a nearly flawless December stretch of five matches: after losing to Atletico (1:2), they began a streak of four matches earning points. Away against Real Betis (1:1), Vallecano equalized after the break, although they only created 0.62 xG over 90 minutes with four shots on target. The red-and-whites are dropping points due to poor finishing, having scored 20 goals from an xG of 22.33, and leading striker Thomas will miss the upcoming match due to illness.
Celta
Celta delighted their fans during the New Year holidays by extending the contract of club legend Iago Aspas, who has 6 goals and 3 assists in the current La Liga campaign. On the other hand, apart from the veteran's successes, no one else has stood out in Vigo, particularly as the team has managed to earn only four points from eight away matches (16th place). Therefore, it is not surprising that in the last three rounds, there hasn't been a single match for Celta where over 2.5 goals were scored.
Rayo Vallecano vs Celta Prediction
Since November 2022, Rayo Vallecano and Celta have played four head-to-head matches, three of which ended in goalless draws. I expect a low-intensity game from these mid-table teams — they are unlikely to please with goals.
