Key Facts
- Celta Vigo is in good form following its 1-0 win at Atlético Madrid, but remains four points behind Real Betis in the race for a Champions League spot.
- Levante, sitting 19th in the table, is just one point ahead of Alavés and desperately needs points; a loss at Balaídos would further intensify the relegation battle.
- Celta is missing two key midfielders in Miguel Román (metatarsal fracture) and Matías Vecino (muscle injury), which could weaken their stability in build-up play and their marking in one-on-one situations.
- Historically, the most recent five head-to-head matches have been low-scoring: Four of those matches were tied at halftime, with the games usually opening up only after the break.
- Levante has won its last four home games in a row but shows weaknesses on the road; the 1-5 loss at Villarreal exposed problems when their pressing breaks down.
- Levante will be without striker Iván Romero due to injury; the offensive burden now falls more heavily on Víctor García and Karl Etta Eyong, who recently combined for three goals against Osasuna and can create danger up front if they are given space.
Celta Vigo returns to Balaídos, and the momentum from their commanding 1-0 win at Atlético Madrid is palpable—a result defined by Ionuț Radu’s saves and Borja Iglesias’s finish: In the 36th round of La Liga, Claudio Giráldez’s team hosts a Levante side on Tuesday that is still riding high on the momentum of their comeback victory against Osasuna (3-2) under Luís Castro. The situation is unusually tense for both sides: Vigo sits in sixth place with 50 points, four points behind Real Betis in the race for the additional Spanish Champions League spot, while Levante, in nineteenth place with 36 points, is just one point behind Alavés.
- Venue: Estadio Abanca-Balaídos, Vigo
- Date and time: May 12, 2026, 7:00 PM
- Competition: La Liga (Matchday 36)
A scoreless first half fits with Celta’s slow starts, Levante’s cautious first halves, and the absences of Miguel Román and Matías Vecino.
The subsequent push forward could open the game up for more than 2.5 goals, though Iván Romero’s absence and Ionuț Radu’s clean sheet record suggest Vigo will build a clear lead without both teams scoring.
Vigo Form & Record Check
The win at Atlético was Celta’s most mature league performance in the final stretch of the season. Atlético created enough danger to make the result uncomfortable, but Ionuț Radu provided the necessary foundation and the defensive block remained solid. Borja Iglesias then scored the decisive goal following an assist from Williot Swedberg, giving Giráldez a win that looked more like control than luck. This result was followed by a 3-1 victory over Elche, meaning Vigo has regained some ground after losses to Villarreal and Barcelona, as well as their quarterfinal exit from the Europa League against SC Freiburg. In their last five matches across all competitions, there have been no draws, and they have conceded a goal in four of those games. The personnel situation is a factor: Miguel Román is out with a metatarsal fracture, and Matías Vecino is also unavailable due to a muscle injury. If the game slows down, Vigo could lose some of their stability. Nevertheless, the five-point lead over Getafe provides comfortable control of sixth place, while the four-point gap to Real Betis keeps the higher goal within reach.
Vigo could line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Ionuț Radu – 13 in goal following his strong performance at the Metropolitano. The projected back three consists of Javi Rodríguez – 32, Yoel Lago – 29, and Marcos Alonso – 20, with Marcos Alonso available again after serving his suspension and expected to return directly to the starting lineup. Miguel Román and Matías Vecino are out, making Fer López – 8 and Ilaix Moriba – 6 likely options in central midfield. Álvaro Núñez – 14 and Óscar Mingueza – 3 are expected to provide width, while Pablo Durán – 18 and Williot Swedberg – 19 are likely to support Borja Iglesias – 7. This is a projected lineup, not a confirmation.
Levante Form & Record Check
Levante’s most recent league match was anything but smooth, but it may have turned the tide this season. They fell behind by two goals early against Osasuna, then Víctor García scored twice, and Karl Etta Eyong headed in the winning goal in stoppage time. That 3-2 result kept them one point behind Alavés and restored real belief. Their league form is stronger than the table suggests: wins against Getafe, Sevilla, and Osasuna, plus a 0-0 draw at Espanyol in their last five games, speak for themselves.
The warning is nevertheless obvious, as the 5-1 loss at Villarreal showed just how vulnerable Levante can look on the road once the initial pressing barrier is broken. Luís Castro’s team has built its fight for survival on four consecutive home wins, but this away fixture demands something different. Iván Romero’s muscle tear takes an important option out of the attack and places more responsibility on the runs of Víctor García and Karl Etta Eyong. If Levante starts the match as inattentively as they did against Osasuna, Balaídos will be far less forgiving.
Levante is expected to line up in a 4-4-1-1 formation, with Mathew Ryan – 13 in goal behind Adrián Dela – 4 and Matías Moreno – 2 in central defense. Oriol Rey – 20 and Pablo Martínez – 10 are set to anchor the midfield, while Víctor García – 17 supports Karl Etta Eyong – 21. Iván Romero is out with a torn muscle fiber, so Karl Etta Eyong – 21 is likely the first choice up front.
Vigo – Levante Head-to-Head & Stats
In their last five meetings, Vigo is unbeaten against Levante, with three wins and two draws. The most recent of these took place in November 2025, when Vigo won 2-1 on the road; prior to that came a 1-1 draw in 2022, Vigo wins by scores of 0-2 and 2-0 in 2021, and another 1-1 draw in 2020. Interestingly, the pattern behind the results is more telling than the mere record: In all five matches, the number of goals before halftime remained below 1.5, and four times the score was tied at halftime. Vigo scored in each of these matches after the break, while every game ultimately ended with between 1.5 and 3.5 goals. This history suggests a patient opening period before spaces gradually open up.
