Barcelona/Vigo, Mar 17 (EFE).- Espanyol receives Celta this Saturday, in a duel of scorers recently called up by the Spanish team, after two consecutive defeats against Valladolid (2-1) and Real Madrid (3 -1), but with confidence in becoming strong at home to defeat the Galician team and move away from the red zone of the classification in the decisive stretch of the course.
The blue and white team has been solid in their stadium since the start of 2023. In fact, they have only lost one official match of the six they have played at home, against Real Sociedad (2-3). The dressing room is aware that turning their field into a fort is key.
The Espanyol footballers do not set off the alarm because they are currently one point from relegation, despite defining the game as crucial. The players are convinced that with their best level they can defeat Celta, who have drawn their last two away games (Real Sociedad, 1-1, and Osasuna, 0-0).
The coach, Diego Martínez, will not be able to count, in principle, on the French side Pierre-Gabriel, with a muscular problem in his left leg. Neither will be the injured Adrià Pedrosa, Keidi Bare and Gori García. In any case, the final call will be known this Saturday, hours before the game.
The balance between the two teams leaves Espanyol in a good place. The Galician side have only achieved one win in their last ten visits to the RCDE Stadium, in the 2016-17 season (0-2, goals from Giuseppe Rossi and Pione Sisto). The rest of the duels have resulted in six local victories and three draws.
On the other hand, Celta was Espanyol’s first rival this season. Diego Martínez’s squad started with a 2-2 win at Balaídos. In January, in the round of 32 of the Copa del Rey, both teams met again and Espanyol knocked the Galicians out of the tournament (3-1). Now it’s time for a new installment.
Celta travel to Cornellá at their best moment of the season, launched by the goalscoring rhythm set by Iago Aspas, who will seek to unseat Joselu Mato from the top of the Zarra Trophy to celebrate, almost four years later, his return to the national team.
The Spanish international continues to be the leader of the Galician team, despite the tremendous irruption of the young Gabri Veiga, who seems not to be affected by the noise that the great Europeans have generated interest in him.
Both will once again be the main threat for a Celta that has sustained its growth in a notable defensive improvement. Iván Villar, in goal, is 31 minutes away from surpassing the unbeaten record held by Jose Manuel Pinto and Rubén Blanco, who went 385 minutes without conceding a goal in the 2005-06 and 2019-20 seasons, respectively.
Carvalhal will barely touch up his eleven to face the lightest Espanyol in history, with the exceltic Joselu Mato, Sergi Gómez and Denis Suárez in the squad led by Diego Martínez from Vigo.
The return of Hugo Mallo to the right side is taken for granted after serving a suspension against Rayo Vallecano, and the question is whether he repeats with Luca de la Torre or returns the Argentine Franco Cervi to eleven, with Seferovic as Aspas’ partner in attack.
– Probable lineups
Spanish RCD: Pacheco; Óscar Gil, César Montes, Cabrera, Brian Oliván; Vini Souza, Darder; Puado, Denis Suárez, Braithwaite, Joselu.
Celtic: Iván Villar; Hugo Mallo, Aidoo, Unai Núñez, Javi Galán; Carles Pérez, Beltrán, Gabri Veiga, Luca de la Torre or Cervi; Quotes, Seferovic.
Referee: Cuadra Fernández (Balearic committee).
Estadio: RCDE Stadium.
Time: 18:30 CET (17:30 GMT).
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Positions: Espanyol (15th, 27 points); Celtic (11th, 31 points).
The key: The match will be special for Denis Suárez, who was trained in the lower categories of Celta and has played in the last four seasons in the Galician team.
The fact: Celta have only won the blue and whites once in their last ten visits: 0-2 in the 2016-17 season.
The phrases
Brian Oliván: “It’s a crucial game, very important for us.”
The environment: The club trusts that the schedule and the importance of the match will be incentives for the RCDE Stadium to present a good entry.