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Celta Vigo will invite Deportivo Alaves to the Estadio Municipal de Balaídos in their La Liga campaign opener on Friday. Both teams achieved a mid-table finish last season, with the hosts finishing 13th with 41 points, five fewer than the visitors, who finished in 10th place.
The hosts had a decent run in the pre-season, winning four of their seven friendlies. They concluded their pre-season against West Ham United, suffering a 6-5 defeat on penalties. The match ended 2-2 in regulation time as Mihailo Ristić and Pablo Durán leveled the scores twice.
The visitors played eight games in the pre-season, suffering just one defeat. They met Osasuna in their final friendly last week and goals from Luka Romero and Carlos Nahuel Benavídez helped them register a 2-1 win.
Celta Vigo vs Deportivo Alaves Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- The two teams have met 58 times in all competitions thus far. They have contested these meetings closely, with the hosts having a narrow 23-21 lead in wins and 14 games ending in draws.
- Alaves were unbeaten in their two league meetings against the hosts last season, recording a home win while the away game ended in a draw.
- The visitors' 3-0 win last season was their first one against the hosts since 2019.
- Celta Vigo are unbeaten in their last four La Liga meetings against the visitors, recording three wins and keeping as many clean sheets.
- Deportivo Alaves have just one win in their last seven away games in La Liga, failing to score in five games in that period.
- Celta are unbeaten in their last six home games in the league, recording four wins.
- Four of the last five meetings between the two teams have produced over 2.5 goals.
Celta Vigo vs Deportivo Alaves Prediction
Os Celestes had concluded the 2023-24 La Liga season on a three-game unbeaten run, scoring two goals apiece, and will look to build on that form. They are unbeaten in their last six home games. They have suffered just one loss in their last nine home meetings against Alaves, failing to score just twice, and are strong favorites.
Vicente Guaita is likely to sit this one out with a shoulder injury while striker Anastasios Douvikas is also a doubt.
El Glorioso had a poor record in their away games in La Liga last season, winning just one of the seven outings since February. They failed to score in five games in that period and will look to improve upon that record.
They have just one win in their last eight away meetings against Celta, failing to score in six games. New signing Hugo Novoa is ruled out from the campaign opener on account of an injury.
Considering Celta's home advantage and better record in this fixture, we back them to eke out a narrow win.
Prediction: Celta Vigo 2-1 Deportivo Alaves
Celta Vigo vs Deportivo Alaves Betting Tips
Tip 1: Result - Celta Vigo to win
Tip 2: Goals - Over/Under 2.5 Goals - Over 2.5 goals
Tip 3: At least one goal to be scored in the second half - Yes
Tip 4: Iago Aspas to score or assist any time - Yes
