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

Basement side Levante will be bidding to make it back-to-back wins in La Liga when they continue their campaign away to Celta Vigo on Monday night.

The visitors will enter the match off the back of a morale-boosting 1-0 victory over the champions Atletico Madrid, while Celta shared the points with Cadiz last time out.

Match preview

Celta have recorded eight wins, seven draws and nine defeats from 24 La Liga matches this season to collect 31 points, which has left them in 10th position in the table, seven points behind sixth-placed Real Sociedad.

The Sky Blues, who finished eighth in Spain's top flight last term, will bring a four-game unbeaten run into this contest, picking up eight points from the last 12 available, beating Osasuna and Rayo Vallecano, in addition to sharing the points with Sevilla and Cadiz.

Much of Celta's success this season has been built on a strong away record, having picked up 17 points from their 12 matches on the road, which is the fifth-best record in the division.

At home, though, Eduardo Coudet's side have collected just 14 points from 12 matches - the fourth-worst record in the division, even with winning their last three in front of their own supporters.

Celta have also been victorious in their last two league games against Levante, including a 2-0 victory in the corresponding match during the 2020-21 campaign.

Levante still have a lot of work to do if they are to avoid relegation to the second tier, currently sitting bottom of the table with 14 points, 10 points from the safety of 17th position.

However, the basement side will enter Monday's clash full of confidence following a standout 1-0 win over Atletico during the week, with Gonzalo Melero scoring the only goal of the contest at Wanda Metropolitano in the 54th minute.

The victory was just Levante's second in La Liga this season, and there is no getting away from the fact that it has been a desperately disappointing campaign for the club, who have conceded 50 times in their 24 matches, which is comfortably the worst defensive record in the division.

The Frogs have finished 15th, 15th, 12th and 14th in Spain's top flight since their return to this level in 2017, but they are facing a huge battle to avoid playing Segunda Division football next term.

Levante are also winless in their last three La Liga matches against Celta, but they did record a 3-2 victory in Vigo during the 2019-20 campaign.

Celta Vigo La Liga form:

Celta Vigo form (all competitions):

Levante La Liga form:

Team News

Celta's squad is in excellent shape at the moment, with Coudet having no injury or suspension concerns heading into Monday's contest with Levante.

As a result, the team could be unchanged from the one that took to the field for the first whistle against Cadiz, with Fran Beltran keeping hold of his position at the base of the midfield.

Iago Aspas and Santi Mina have scored 18 La Liga goals between them this season, meanwhile, and the pair will continue in the final third with support from Denis Suarez, Brais Mendez and Franco Cervi.

As for Levante, a growing injury list now includes Shkodran Mustafi, Ruben Vezo, Nemanja Radoja, Enric Franquesa, Sergio Postigo and Jose Campana, so head coach Alessio Lisci does not have many options for change.

The visitors do not have any fresh problems from their win at Atletico, though, so it would not be a surprise to see the same XI take to the field for this match.

Enis Bardhi and Jorge de Frutos supported Roger Marti in the final third at Wanda Metropolitano and that is again expected to be the case in this match, with Melero also retaining his spot in midfield.

Celta Vigo possible starting lineup:

Dituro; Mallo, Aidoo, Araujo, Galan; Beltran; Mendez, Suarez, Cervi; Mina, Aspas

Levante possible starting lineup:

Cardenas; Pier, Duarte, Caceres; Miramon, Pepelu, Melero, Son; Bardhi, Marti, De Frutos

We say: Celta Vigo 2-1 Levante

Celta will certainly be the favourites to pick up all three points on Monday, and we fancy the home side to triumph despite Levante's impressive win last time out. The Sky Blues have a fully-fit squad and will be the fresher of the two, so we are expecting Coudet's team to secure the victory in front of their own fans.