Real Madrid kick off their season with a tricky away match in LaLiga on Saturday, they visit Celta Vigo at Estadio de Balaidos. Last season Real Madrid won 4-2 at Celta and they also secured a 2-0 victory in the reverse fixture. The Blancos have won nine of the last ten direct meetings in LaLiga, and have not lost a game against Celta Vigo since 2014. However, in 2017 Celta managed to knock Real Madrid out of the Copa del Rey with a 2-2 draw at home and a 2-1 victory in Madrid.
Celta Vigo barely managed to avoid relegation last season, they finished just above the line and only four points clear of the first relegated team. This summer they have brought in a few quality players like Denis Suarez from Barcelona and Pape Cheikh on loan from Lyon, but they also sold striker Maxi Gomez to Valencia. Okay Yokuslu, David Junca and Santi Mina are all out injured, while Hugo Mallo and Sergio Alvarez are doubts.
Real Madrid can't afford another poor season on the domestic front, they finished the last campaign in third place for the second consecutive time and have won just one of the last seven editions of the Spanish league. This summer they have spent over 300 million euros on new players, including superstar Eden Hazard from Chelsea and striker Luka Jovic from Eintracht Frankfurt, so there is immense pressure on head coach Zinedine Zidane to deliver instant results. Marco Asensio and Rodrygo are sidelined, while Brahim Diaz and Ferland Mendy are injury doubts.
Probable line-ups:
Celta Vigo: Blanco - Mallo, Aidoo, Araujo, Olaza - Mendez, Lobotka, Beltran, Suarez - Aspas, Fernandez
Real Madrid: Courtois - Varane, Ramos, Militao - Carvajal, Modric, Casemiro, Kroos, Marcelo - Hazard, Benzema
My prediction:
Real Madrid didn't have great results during pre-season, but I think they will do a lot better when it counts, I expect a 3-1 victory for the Blancos.
Here are the odds for the match at NetBet:
Celta win - 5.00
Draw - 4.15
Real win - 1.63
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