The Spanish La Liga will tip-off on Friday, November 24th, 2017, when Celta Vigo welcomes Leganes at Balaidos in the opening game of Round 13. We expect to see some entertaining football between two talented sides, and in this preview, we’ll take a closer look at teams’ form and aspirations, in order to provide you fresh betting tips and predictions. So, don’t waste your time and join the action here on GetMoreSports.
CELTA VIGO vs. LEGANES
3-Way: 1: Celta Vigo +104; X: +250 Draw; 2: Leganes +375 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread -0.5: Celta Vigo -103; Leganes +100
Total +2.5: Over +125; Under -130
CELTA VIGO
The Sky Blues suffered another defeat in the previous round of the Spanish La Liga when they were beaten by Sevilla at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, 2:1. It was their third loss in the last five La Liga games, and after twelve rounds they are sitting at the 13th spot of the table with 14 points, a 23:19 goal difference, and a 4-2-6 record, seven points behind Villarreal in the sixth spot. At home, The Sky Blues have earned eight points with a 10:9 goal difference and a 2-2-2 record, while on the road they have recorded two wins and four losses with a 13:10 goal difference. Five times they were leading into the halftime, four times it was a draw at halftime, while three times opponents were leading after the first 45 minutes.
Last week Celta Vigo played a tough match at Sevilla and they took the lead in the 13th minute when Maximiliano Gomez scored a beautiful header after Pione Sisto’s magnificent cross. It was Gomez’s sixth goal of the season, and his first since September 29th and the match against Girona. After the leading goal, The Sky Blues decided to defend until the halftime, but they couldn’t withstand the pressure and in the 36th minute, they allowed Luis Muriel to level the match after Johannes Geis’ free kick. The game was decided just three minutes after the break when Pablo Sarabia found Nolito inside the box, and the former Celta Vigo’s player took a great header into a top right corner of Ruben Blanco’s goal. The Sky Blues had a couple of chances to get the second goal, particularly defenders Gustavo Cabral and Hugo Mallo, but they couldn’t find the net. Celta Vigo had a ball on their feet for 48% of the time, and they took 11 shots on goal (five on target), and in the end, it wasn’t enough to get a positive result.
The Sky Blues are playing an entertaining football with a lot of goals on their matches. In nine out of the first twelve games, they scored the first goal, and they were particularly deadly in the first half when they bagged 15 out of their 23 goals this season. However, they had a lot of problems in the last 15 minutes when they conceded eight goals, scoring only three in a return. Obviously, they have some psychological problems late in the game. For six games in a row, they couldn’t keep the clean sheet, and a much better defensive job is needed if they want to improve in the following weeks.
The 21-year old striker Maximiliano Gomez and a 30-year old forward Iago Aspas are the team’s leading scorers with six goals apiece. The 22-year old Danish winger Pione Sisto is having a wonderful season so far, and he is the team’s top assist-maker with nine dishes in 12 appearances, also adding two goals to his name. Another Danish international Daniel Wass is playing well, and he made four assists in 12 games this season, adding two goals to his account.
The manager Juan Carlos Unzue is still without the 30-year old centre-back Facundo Roncaglia (hamstring injury), while the 20-year old talented winger Emre Mor is recovering from a sprained ankle. All other players are healthy and ready to go.
LEGANES
The Legionaries had a great start of the season, and with a well-organized and defensive approach, they were certainly one of the pleasant surprises. After six games without conceding a goal in September and October, they were beaten three times in a row by Sevilla, Valencia, and Barcelona, scoring just one goal in the process and conceding eight times in a return. However, they played pretty well on these three occasions, especially against Sevilla on the road, but they weren’t lucky to get at least one draw.
In the previous round of the Spanish La Liga Leganes were hammered at home by Barca, 3:0, but they put on a great performance and they couldn’t find the net just because Barca’s keeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen had a magnificent day between the sticks. In the 20th minute, Leganes had the first chance of the game when Nordin Amrabat, who’s loaned from Watford this summer, dribbled past two Barcelona’s defenders, but his shot went over the bar. Eight minutes later, Barca took the lead after a horrible mistake by Leganes’ goalkeeper Ivan Cuellar, who dropped an easy cross from the right wing, leaving the ball to Luis Suarez.
In the 35th minute, Marc-Andre Ter Stegen made his first big save of the game after Alexander Szymanowski’s shot into the bottom right corner of the goal. Seven minutes after the break, Claudio Beauvue had a one-on-one with Barca’s keeper, but once again Marc-Andre Ter Stegen made a brilliant save. After Suarez’s second goal of the game, Amrabat had a great chance to cut the lead. He was all alone inside the box, but Ter Stegen made another magnificent stop. It was Leganes’ last opportunity to find the net, and until the end, they only managed to concede the third goal.
After the first twelve rounds of the Spanish La Liga Leganes is laying at the eight spot with 17 points, a 9:11 goal difference, and a 5-2-5 record. At home, they have earned eight points with a 3:5 goal difference and a 2-2-2 record, while on the road they have recorded three wins and three losses with a 6:6 goal difference. Unlike Celta Vigo, they have scored just two goals in the first half, while they were far more efficient after the break. The 29-year old winger Alexander Szymanowski is arguably Leganes’ best player this season with two goals and two dishes in ten appearances, and he’s a constant threat to opposition’s defenders. The 29-year old striker Claudio Beauvue, who’s loaned from Celta Vigo, and the 24-year old midfielder Gabriel both bagged two goals so far.
The manager Asier Garitano is certainly upset after the third consecutive defeat, and he’ll try to motivate his players to continue with nice displays. He doesn’t have any serious injury worries, besides the goalkeeper Jon Ander Serantes (shoulder injury), who’ll be sidelined for at least a month.
CELTA VIGO vs. LEGANES – Match Prediction
In spite of three consecutive defeats, Leganes is playing very well and they will try to get something from Balaidos. On the other side, Celta Vigo is playing in the on-off form from the start of the season, and they are pretty unpredictable. I think we’ll get a close battle, and maybe it is time for Leganes’ first draw on the road.
MY PICK: Draw (+250)
