Celta Vigo – Real Betis
Three wins in the last five head-to-head matches, including a spectacular 3-2 victory in February, and yet Celta de Vigo are only 15th in the table after two matchdays. On Wednesday, Claudio Giráldez’s team will host Real Betis Sevilla at the Estadio Abanca-Balaídos, with both teams in desperate need of points after mixed starts to the season. The Galicians have only one point to their name, while Manuel Pellegrini’s Andalusians are in 7th place with four points. The fact that both teams are competing in the Europa League makes the early clash between the 6th and 3rd matchdays particularly explosive. For Celta, the return to the international stage after eight years marks an important milestone, while Betis wants to confirm its European ambitions after finishing sixth last season. The statistics promise a spectacular match: in the last five encounters, there have always been more than 2.5 goals, with both teams scoring without exception. While Betis gained confidence with their victory over Alavés thanks to Lo Celso’s goal, Celta are struggling to convert their chances, as the 1-1 draw in Mallorca after Javi Ruedas’ opening goal symptomatically showed.
- Venue: Estadio Abanca-Balaídos, Vigo
- Date and time: 08/27/2025, 9:00 p.m.
- Competition: Primera División (Matchday 6)
Vigo Form & Record Check
After two matchdays, the Celtiñas are a classic example of the emotional rollercoaster that is soccer. With just one point after the season opener against Getafe (0-2) and the subsequent draw in Mallorca (1-1), Claudio Giráldez’s team is in 15th place in the table. The recent 1-1 draw against the Balearic Islands revealed both the weaknesses and the potential of the Viguenses. Javi Rueda, who made his debut in the starting lineup, scored in the 38th minute to give his side the lead, before Mateu Morey equalized for Mallorca in the 87th minute. It was a typical game for the current Celta era: an early lead, but ultimately not enough for the win. The performance against Getafe was much more sobering. Failure to score at Balaídos in front of their home crowd underscored the offensive problems that Giráldez has already addressed. The coach sees the need for an “enganche,” a classic playmaker who can play the final pass. Denis Suárez from Villarreal is the focus of attention. Giráldez has broadened his squad, but the integration of the new signings is still ongoing. According to his coach, Bryan Zaragoza is “still far from his best form,” while Borja Iglesias is settling in more quickly. After just one week, the former Betis striker already understands the movement patterns in the system. One might think that the three games this season show how Celta wants to present itself: in four of the last five games, they scored in the first half, but 80% of the games also remained below 1.5 goals in the second half, which indicates a decline in intensity in the final phase.
Claudio Giráldez is likely to rely on his tried-and-tested 3-4-2-1 formation against Betis, even if personnel uncertainties are influencing his plans. The loss of Carl Starfelt weighs heavily: the Swedish center back is suffering from a torn muscle fiber and will be out for at least three to four weeks. Manu Fernández could get a chance in the back three after Giráldez has been rotating frequently lately. Mingueza is under pressure: the right-back sat on the bench for the entire 90 minutes in Mallorca, while Javi Rueda started and promptly scored. With five options for the wings, the competition has become fierce. Up front, Aspas and Jutglà are expected to return, while Durán could act as the third attacking player. It remains to be seen whether Borja Iglesias will be considered for a starting spot after his acclimatization. Giráldez recently emphasized that the former Betis striker had already understood the processes after just one week.
Betis Form & Record Check
Real Betis has been performing well this season, even if the statistics paint a mixed picture. With four points from two games, Manuel Pellegrini’s team is in a respectable 7th place in the table, level on points with Espanyol and just one point ahead of Rayo Vallecano. The recent 1-1 away game against promoted Elche at the start of the season was typical of the Andalusians’ current form. Ruibal gave the Béticos the lead with a fine finish, but their passive attitude in the second half ultimately cost them points. This already shows a pattern that is also confirmed by the statistics from the last five games: Betis often leads at halftime but then loses control. The 1-0 home win against Alavés, on the other hand, brought the hoped-for stability. Lo Celso took advantage of a rebound in the 16th minute and Betis successfully defended their narrow lead until the final whistle. Even if the game at the Estadio La Cartuja was not exactly spectacular, the team showed the necessary mentality for such hard-fought games. However, the injury situation in the squad is cause for concern. With Roca, Deossa, Isco, and Abde out, four important players are missing, with Isco’s absence until November being particularly painful. These personnel problems could explain why Pellegrini often lacks the necessary freshness on the pitch to decide games in crucial phases.
Betis are likely to line up in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation against Celta. Pellegrini will rely on proven players, even though he is currently missing some important players. The absence of Abde Ezzalzouli is particularly painful, as the winger, with a market value of €12 million, normally plays a key role. Marc Roca will continue to be sidelined with injury in central midfield, meaning Altimira and Fornals are likely to form the center. Nelson Deossa also remains out with an ankle injury. In attack, Lo Celso could once again play a central role after his goal against Alavés, while Cucho Hernández should occupy the striker position. The defense around Bartra and Natan seems set, even though Isco will be out for months. Rodrigo Riquelme, who started in the opening draw at Elche, could start again.
H2H Vigo – Betis Head-to-head comparison & statistics
The head-to-head record between Celta and Betis in their last five meetings paints a pretty clear picture: the Galicians have proven to be the stronger team. Three wins, one draw, and only one defeat speak for themselves for the home side. Celta last won 3-2 in February 2025. In November 2024, the two teams drew 2-2, after the Sevillians had celebrated their only victory in this series with a 2-1 win in April 2024. One pattern that immediately catches the eye is that both teams almost always score. In all five games, there were at least three goals, often even more. Defensive play seems to suffer regularly in these duels, which should be quite entertaining for neutral spectators. It is also noteworthy that everything is usually still open at halftime. Four times in a row, the score was tied after 45 minutes before the decisions were made in the second half. Both teams apparently need time to adjust to their opponents.
The focus is on “Both teams to score: Yes” at odds of around 1.7, as both Celta and Betis have scored in at least 80% of their recent games, while Betis has an impeccable 100% scoring record in their last five games. Defensive absences further reinforce this assessment: Starfelt remains unavailable for Celta, while Betis is missing key midfielders Roca, Deossa, and Isco. Interestingly, both teams show a striking 80% tendency to score less than 1.5 goals in the second half, which makes sense given the expected rotations and the strain of three competitions. The double chance of a draw or Betis win also looks attractive, as the visitors have won 80% of their first halves but struggle to finish games, while Celta have won only one of their last five games and disappointed at Balaídos against Getafe.
