Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the La Liga match.
For Real Madrid, the fixture against Celta Vigo represents a crucial opportunity to remain in the chase for the only remaining title this season. Following their elimination from the Champions League and a loss in the Copa del Rey final, the squad will now channel all efforts into La Liga, where they currently sit four points behind Barcelona. Dropping points this weekend would all but end their title ambitions, so the team is expected to produce a fully committed display. Celta Vigo, meanwhile, are equally driven—currently seventh in the standings, they are pushing to return to European competition for the first time since 2017.
Real Madrid
Real Madrid face significant defensive concerns. Due to injuries, Eduardo Camavinga, Éder Militão, and Dani Carvajal remain unavailable, while Antonio Rüdiger is serving a six-match suspension. Additionally, Ferland Mendy and David Alaba are also sidelined. Defensively, the squad conceded three goals to Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final and two more in the second leg of their Champions League tie against Arsenal. Moreover, in three of their last four home matches at the Santiago Bernabéu, the opposition have managed to score at least once. That said, Real Madrid remain consistent in attack—they have found the net in 11 consecutive La Liga fixtures.
Celta Vigo
Celta Vigo are finishing the season strongly, having suffered just two defeats in their last 11 La Liga outings. However, they have managed only three clean sheets during that span. Offensively, Celta Vigo are in excellent form, scoring in 16 straight matches and finding the net against top-tier sides such as Athletic Bilbao, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, and Villarreal. In their two most recent fixtures, the squad have been particularly impressive, scoring three goals against both Barcelona and Villarreal, while generating a combined 5.32 xG. Borja Iglesias has been especially impactful during this run, scoring four times.
Real Madrid vs Celta Vigo Prediction
Real Madrid are widely expected to score at home, but given their current defensive issues, keeping a clean sheet against Celta Vigo appears unlikely. The visitors are dangerous on the counter and have scored in nearly every match of late. Having put three past Barcelona, it is hard to imagine Real Madrid offering more resistance in their current form.
