Celta vs Bilbao Prediction 19 January 2025

🔊 Can Athletic "win on class" against Celta at "Balaídos"? After two consecutive defeats, which has not happened to the "Basques" this season, they are set to visit Vigo. Ernesto Valverde's team needs to find solutions to their problems if they wish to maintain their place in the top-4 of the championship. Let's take a look at the odds according to the bookmakers: a victory for the "Celts" is at 2.85, and a win for the "Lions" is at 2.6. We strongly recommend checking out our prediction, based on a tactical analysis of both sides.

📊 H2H

In the first round of the current La Liga season, the "Basques" struggled but managed to defeat the "Celts" (3:1). Ernesto Valverde and company effectively used their counterattacks, leaving Celta with no chance of success. It's worth noting that in 4 out of the last 5 head-to-head matches at "Balaídos," the home side managed to increase their points tally.

⚪ CELTA

During the week, the "Sky Blues" nearly caused an upset. On the pitch of "Santiago Bernabéu," Celta managed to recover from a 2-goal deficit with 7 minutes remaining in regular time. However, fatigue and sheer inexperience prevented the "Celts" from being competitive in extra time - 2:5 after ET. Interestingly, Claudio Harildes did not use his main weapons in the form of his wingbacks. Oscar Mingueza often took a deeper position, which allowed for compactness in defense but reduced attacking variability. It's also important to note the frequent switching of flanks by Mingueza and Carreira, which often confused the "Merengues" players. For the upcoming La Liga round, Celta's coaching staff will need to find replacements for Marcos Alonso (suspension), Iago Aspas (injury), and Alfonso Gonzalez (injury).

🔴 ATHLETIC

The club from Bilbao experienced a true anomaly - 2 consecutive defeats. Such a situation has not occurred for the "Lions" this season. However, it's worth noting that in the league, Athletic has not lost in their last 10 matches. This has allowed the "Basques" to climb to 4th place in the La Liga standings. Neutral spectators sometimes find it boring to watch matches involving the "Red and Whites." This is due to Ernesto Valverde's excessive pragmatism. Much of the Spanish specialist's tactics depend on midfielders. They are required to be active on the opponent's half and capable of creating chances. For the "Basques," Alejandro Berenguer is such a player, contributing significantly to attacking development. In this La Liga season, the 29-year-old Spaniard has already scored 8 points in the goal+assist system.

⚽️ GOALS PREDICTION

In the last 6 head-to-head matches, the "Basques" have consistently allowed the "Celts" to score. Considering Celta's high attacking activity and significant defensive gaps this season, it suggests that we might witness an end-to-end encounter. Moreover, in 4 out of the last 5 personal encounters between these teams, goals have been scored by both sides. Our choice is both teams to score (yes).

🚩 CORNERS PREDICTION

Despite having star flank attackers, Athletic often prefers combination play through the middle of the field. On average, the "Basques" earn 4.8 corners per match. The "Celts" also cannot boast a fantastic number of corners earned per game - only 3.5. Furthermore, in 8 out of the last 9 head-to-head encounters, there were no more than 10 corner kicks recorded. Our bet is total corners under 9.5.

📝 MATCH PREDICTION

The personal meetings between Celta and Athletic traditionally delight viewers with thrilling football. In our opinion, bold play by the "Celts" might force the "Basques" to play on counter courses. Thus, in 4 out of the last 5 head-to-head matches, at least 3 goals were scored. The average scoring rate of both teams this season is characterized by identical figures - 1.5 goals per match. Our key bet is both teams to score (yes).