Celta Vigo – Villarreal
Villarreal leads the Primera División with a perfect record, while Celta de Vigo is battling early doubts with only two points from three games. The visitors travel to Balaídos tomorrow with two wins and a goal difference of 7-0, where they suffered a surprising 3-0 defeat four months ago. These encounters traditionally guarantee spectacle, with an average of over three goals per game in the last five meetings. Canadian Buchanan, who scored a hat trick in the 5-0 win over Girona, perfectly embodies the new momentum under Marcelino. For Celta, on the other hand, this game could shape the rest of their season. Giráldez continues to rely on his mix of experience and youth, but has to watch as his team has yet to find the desired rhythm. The betting market sees the visitors as slight favorites despite the away trip, reflecting Villarreal’s impressive start.
- Venue: Estadio Abanca-Balaídos, Vigo
- Date and time: 08/31/2025, 5:00 p.m.
- Competition: Primera División (Matchday 3)
Vigo form & record check
Celta de Vigo are stuck in no man’s land in the table after three league games. With just two points, the team is in 14th place, level on points with Real Sociedad in 13th. A meager haul for a team playing internationally again after an eight-year hiatus. The 1-1 draw against Betis at home showed fighting spirit, but also highlighted the problems. After falling behind early to Bartra, Hugo Álvarez scored the equalizer immediately after the break, but the decisive second goal failed to materialize. Captain Aspas was once again left on the bench. The draw in Mallorca a week earlier followed a similar pattern: a decent performance, but too little punch up front. The 0-2 home defeat to Getafe in the opening game was bitter, revealing defensive vulnerability. In all games so far, Giráldez’s team has conceded at least one goal. In terms of personnel, Starfelt will be out for weeks with a torn muscle fiber. The coach is still searching for his best attacking formation. Borja Iglesias and Pablo Durán are battling for the striker position, while the wings are mostly occupied by young talents such as Hugo Álvarez.
Celta are likely to line up in their usual three-man formation, as they did against Mallorca and Betis. Giráldez relies on the 3-4-2-1 system, which offers his team defensive stability and flexibility in attack. Starfelt’s absence due to a muscle strain is forcing the coach to make adjustments in central defense. Yoel Lago could get his chance after starting against Betis and putting in a solid performance. Borja Iglesias is expected to lead the line in attack, supported by Swedberg and Durán. Aspas could start on the bench again, as he did in the last league game. This rotation shows Giráldez’s confidence in his attack.
Villarreal Form & Record Check
FC Villarreal are in impressive form at the start of the season. With two wins from two games and a goal difference of plus seven, Marcelino’s team lead the Primera División, level on points with Barcelona. This flawless record is all the more remarkable given that Villarreal have not conceded a single goal. The 5-0 home win against Girona was an impressive demonstration of their attacking prowess. Buchanan shone with a hat trick, while Pépé and Rafa Marín scored the other goals. Villarreal were already leading 4-0 at half-time. The team had previously made a successful start to the season with a 2-0 win against Oviedo. Villarreal are particularly strong in the first half. In all four of their previous games, the team scored at least two goals before the break, which points to excellent match preparation. Their return to the Champions League seems to be providing additional momentum. Villarreal is also benefiting from smart transfer activity: While Yeremy Pino moved to Crystal Palace for €30 million, Buchanan, Oluwaseyi, and other promising reinforcements have joined the team.
Villarreal is likely to line up in their usual 4-4-2 formation, even though Marcelino has some important personnel concerns. The absences of Gerard Moreno and Ayoze Pérez due to muscle injuries are forcing the coach to find creative solutions in attack. Etta Eyong is expected to lead the line again after impressing in preseason. In defense, Logan Costa is still out with a cruciate ligament injury, while Willy Kambwala is also unavailable. The center-back pairing could therefore be Foyth and Rafa Marín, as it was last time out. Marcelino has several options in midfield, with Gueye and Comesaña looking like a likely combination.
H2H Vigo – Villarreal Head-to-head & statistics
The matches between Celta and Villarreal have been spectacular in recent years. All five encounters have ended with at least three goals, and in most cases four or more. This pairing simply does not know what a draw is. Villarreal narrowly leads the head-to-head record with three wins to Celta’s two. Celta usually wins at home, while Villarreal has the upper hand away from home. In April of this year, the Galicians won 3-0 at Balaídos, after losing a wild 4-3 game in Villarreal in August 2024. Both teams regularly score in the first half. In four of the last five games, at least two goals were scored before the break. Villarreal conceded at least one goal in all five games, while Celta only kept a clean sheet once. Home advantage could be decisive today. Celta won both of their most recent home games against Villarreal, each by a one-goal margin. The atmosphere at Balaídos seems to make the difference.
Villarreal comes to Vigo with four wins from four games, scoring over 2.5 goals in 75% of its matches, while Celta has conceded goals in all of its last five encounters. The bookmakers see Villarreal as only slight favorites at 2.5, although their form and offensive power clearly point to an away win. The market for over 2.5 goals looks particularly attractive, especially as both teams are scoring consistently and Celta remain vulnerable defensively. The odds for “Both teams to score: Yes” also offer value, as Celta have scored in 80% of their last games despite their fluctuating form, while Villarreal have scored at least once in every game this season so far. The absences of Gerard Moreno and Ayoze Pérez for the visitors could slow down their attacking power somewhat, but Buchanan and Pépé have already shown that they can fill these gaps. The absence of Starfelt in Celta’s defense further strengthens the arguments for a successful Villarreal performance.
