Celta Vigo vs Rayo Vallecano Prediction & Betting Tips (18 January)

Celta Vigo remains on 2 very good victories won in the league at home, against Athletic Bilbao firstly 2-0 then against Valencia in a second 4-1. Last weekend, as part of the 18th day, the Galician club beat Sevilla FC by the smallest of scores 0-1, thus placing itself very close to the top 6 7th. Casually, without making much noise, Celta finds itself undefeated for 5 days for a flamboyant record of 4 victories, including a very important success on the pitch of Real Madrid 0-2 in December. On the other hand, there was no King's Cup on the program this week for the Celticos who had been eliminated in the round of 16 TAB. End clap for Rayo Vallecano in the Copa del Rey this week who were defeated on the Alaves pitch 2-0.

A somewhat expected result since the club from the Madrid suburbs is in difficulty when it comes to playing away. For example, on the road, Vallecano has not won since October 19 in La Liga. Just before the winter break, Inigo Perez's men were even cooked by Elche in the Martinez Valero defeat 4-0. Last weekend, Rayo Vallecano ended its streak of 8 games without a victory in La Liga by winning by a small goal against Mallorca 2-1. 

Dismissed by their coach, Dominguez and defender Ristic should stay out of the group today. Otherwise, striker Jutgla, who arrived from Club Bruges last summer and author of 2 goals in La Liga, who was absent on the last day for personal reasons, should be back in the group. Offensively, the Galicians are very strong with the legendary Iago Aspas, the excellent finisher Borja Iglesias (7 goals, 2 assists in La Liga), the catalytic wingers Zaragoza (on loan for the season from Bayern Munich) and Williot Swedberg (3 goals in La Liga). The Celticos rely on a playing system based on omnipresent pistons like the former Barcelona player and now Spanish international Mingueza or even Rueda and Carreira. Returning from a successful loan to Inter Miami (MLS winner), Allende should find a new base in the days to come. Out with injury in the league against Mallorca, right back Ratiu (Romanian international) did not participate in the Copa del Rey poster this week and he should not be operational today. It was the injury returner Baillu who was to act as interim in this position but the latter was injured against Alaves in the Copa del Rey. Just before him, it was the offensive Olympic champion with Spain, Camello, who was forced to leave his team prematurely in the first period.

Excluded against Mallorca, midfielder Oscar Valentin will logically serve his suspension. Added to all these defections are the absences due to injury of central Mumin and Luiz Felipe (ex-OM) and midfielders Mendez and Unai Lopez. Expected to play the CAN final with Senegal today, midfielder Pathé Ciss will obviously not play this championship match. The probable line-ups for Celta Vigo - Rayo Vallecano: Celta Vigo: Radu - Rodriguez, Starfelt, Alonso - Abdellaoui, Roman, Moriba, Mingueza - Iago Aspas, Iglesias, Zaragoza. Rayo Vallecano: Batalla - Baillu, Lejeune, Mendy, Chavarria - Gumbau, Diaz - de Frutos, Palazon, A.Garcia - Martin.