Preview: Celta Vigo vs. Granada - prediction, team news, lineups

Two teams at the wrong end of the La Liga table will lock horns on Monday evening, as 17th-placed Celta Vigo welcome 18th-placed Granada to Abanca-Balaidos.

Celta have only picked up four points from their first six league matches of the 2021-22 campaign, while Granada have collected just three points during a disappointing start.

Match preview

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Celta enjoyed an impressive 2020-21 La Liga season, picking up 53 points from their 38 matches to finish eighth in the table, just five points behind Villarreal in seventh, but it would be fair to say that it has been a disappointing start to the new campaign for the Sky Blues.

Eduardo Coudet's side only picked up one point from their opening five league matches of the season, losing to Atletico Madrid, Athletic Bilbao, Real Madrid and Cadiz during a difficult start.

Celta managed to record their first three points of the season on Tuesday night, though, as second-half goals from Iago Aspas and Brais Mendez saw them record a 2-0 victory over Levante in Valencia.

A total of four points from six matches has left Coudet's team in 17th position in the table, but they now have two winnable matches against Granada and Elche ahead of the international break.

Celta recorded a 3-1 win over Granada in the corresponding match between the two sides last season, but two of their last three contests have finished goalless.

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Granada, meanwhile, are still waiting for their first league victory of the season, drawing three and losing three of their opening six matches, which has left them down in 18th position in the table.

Robert Moreno's side picked up a welcome point away to Barcelona on September 20 but could not build on the positive result, as they lost 3-2 at home to Real Sociedad on Thursday night.

Granada levelled the scores in the 70th minute of the clash with Real Sociedad through Luis Milla, but Aritz Elustondo scored his second of the match eight minutes from time to secure all the points for the visitors.

The Red and Whites have finished seventh and ninth in their last two seasons at this level, and there is certainly enough talent in the squad to push higher up the division in the coming weeks.

Granada are winless in their last three league meetings with Celta, but their last victory in this fixture came in Vigo, having run out 2-0 winners in the away match during the 2019-20 campaign.

Team News

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Celta will again be without the services of Joseph Aidoo, who has tested positive for coronavirus, but the home side otherwise have a fully-fit squad for Monday's contest.

Head coach Coudet will have been impressed by what he saw in the victory over Levante, so it would not be a surprise if the same XI took to the field for the first whistle.

Aspas and Santi Mina are both certain starters in the final third of the field, but there could be one alteration to the attack, with Denis Suarez potentially taking the place of Franco Cervi.

As for Granada, Neyder Lozano and Yan Eteki will both miss the contest through injury, while Darwin Machis is a doubt due to the issue that he picked up against Real Sociedad last time out.

Machis had to be replaced in the 24th minute of the match by Antonio Puertas and that change could now occur ahead of kickoff in Vigo.

Ruben Rochina operated in an advanced area against Real Sociedad and should retain his spot, but Monchu could again miss out on a starting role, with Milla, Maxime Gonalons and Angel Montoro set to start in midfield.

Celta Vigo possible starting lineup:

Dituro; Mallo, Araujo, Murillo, Galan; Tapia; Mendez, Beltran, Suarez; Mina, Aspas

Granada possible starting lineup:

Maximiano; Arias, Duarte, Sanchez, Neva; Milla, Montoro, Gonalons; Rochina, Suarez, Puertas

We say: Celta Vigo 2-1 Granada

Celta will have been boosted by their win over Levante last time out, and we are backing the home side to triumph once again here. It would not be a surprise to see a draw in Vigo, but Celta's quality in the forward areas could see them shade a close contest.