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

Real Sociedad will be bidding to make it seven straight wins in all competitions when they continue their La Liga campaign away to Celta Vigo on Sunday afternoon.

The visitors are currently sixth in the table, boasting 16 points from their opening eight matches, while Celta occupy 11th, having collected 10 points from their first eight games of the campaign.

Match preview

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Celta have made a relatively solid start to the 2022-23 season, boasting 10 points from their eight matches courtesy of a record of three wins, one draw and four defeats.

The Sky Blues have only won one of their last four in the league, though, suffering three defeats in the process, including a 1-0 loss to Barcelona at Camp Nou last time out.

Eduardo Coudet's side will be glad to be back on home soil this weekend, as they have been victorious in their last two in front of their own supporters, including a 1-0 win over Real Betis at the start of the month.

Celta have finished eighth and 11th in their last two campaigns at this level of football, and they have been a top-flight Spanish side since earning promotion from the Segunda Division in 2012.

Los Celestes have lost each of their last four league games with Real Sociedad, though, including a 2-0 defeat in the corresponding game between the two sides during the 2021-22 campaign.

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Real Sociedad have only lost one of their last six La Liga games against Celta, and the Basque outfit will enter this match in brilliant form, having been victorious in each of their last six fixtures in all competitions.

Imanol Alguacil's side recorded a 3-0 win over Sheriff Tiraspol in the Europa League on Thursday night, which has left them top of Group E, three points clear of second-placed Manchester United, having won all four of their matches in the competition this season.

The White and Blues have also been in strong form in the league, winning each of their last three matches against Espanyol, Girona and Villarreal, with Brais Mendez scoring the only goal of the contest in the clash with the Yellow Submarine last weekend.

A record of five wins, one draw and two defeats has brought Real Sociedad 16 points, which has left them in sixth position in the table, just one point behind third-placed Athletic Bilbao.

Barcelona and Real Madrid could well pull clear of the chasing pack this season, but it does appear that the other two Champions League spots are open, and Alguacil's side will fancy their chances of being in the mix for a top-four position come the end of the campaign.

Team News

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Celta have no injury or suspension concerns heading into this match, meaning that head coach Coudet will have a full complement to choose from, providing that there are no late issues.

As a result, it would not be a surprise to see the same XI that took to the field for the first whistle against Barcelona last weekend due to the nature of the performance.

Iago Aspas is a certain starter in the final third and should again be joined by Jorgen Strand Larsen, while Gabri Veiga is expected to be given the nod to feature in central midfield with Fran Beltran.

As for Real Sociedad, Mikel Oyarzabal is back in training, as he builds his fitness following a long-term knee injury, but the attacker is still not ready to feature.

Martin Merquelanz, Umar Sadiq, Momo Cho and Andoni Gorosabel, meanwhile, remain on the sidelines for the Basque outfit this weekend.

The starting XI is expected to be similar to the one that featured against Villarreal in the league last weekend, with Alexander Sorloth and Takefusa Kubo potentially playing as the front two.

Alguacil shuffled his pack in the Europa League on Thursday, but the likes of Mikel Merino, Martin Zubimendi and Aihen Munoz should return to the starting side.

Celta Vigo possible starting lineup:

Marchesin; Mallo, Aidoo, Nunez, Galan; Beltran; Rodriguez, Veiga, Cervi; Aspas, Larsen

Real Sociedad possible starting lineup:

Remiro; Sola, Elustondo, Pacheco, Munoz; Mendez, Zubimendi, Merino; D Silva; Sorloth, Kubo

We say: Celta Vigo 1-1 Real Sociedad

Celta will certainly be the fresher of the two sides, and with the hosts having a full squad, this will be a very tough match for Real Sociedad. The visitors will enter this match in excellent form, but we just have a feeling that Celta will do enough to secure a share of the spoils in this contest.

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