CELTA VIGO entertain Valencia in the final La Liga weekend of the season on Sunday and the pressure should be off for both sides.
The hosts are in 14th place and can either jump as high as 12th or finish as low as 17th in a congested mid-table, but are in no danger of relegation after an indifferent season.
The Galician side are on the up though after an encouraging end to the season. Claudio Giraldez's men have won four of their last six games and are particularly strong at home recently where they have won four and drawn once in their last five games at Balaidos. They are undefeated at home since February when Barcelona beat them.
Valencia are guaranteed to finish in ninth spot and Ruben Baraja's surely cannot wait for the season to end – certainly in terms of the way they have ended it.
They have lost five of their last six matches and drew 0-0 in the other one. The run cost them any hopes of sneaking into a European spot and it's hard to see them going into this game with a huge amount of motivation.
How the bookies view it: Odds-on for Celta
Despite being eight points better off, Valencia are underdogs here at 14/5 with the draw 5/2. It means Celta Vigo are 19/20 odds-on shots here for another home win.
Recent head to heads: Goalless at the Mestalla
Valencia and Celta Vigo fought out a dull goalless draw in their league meeting in November, but Celta Vigo eased to a 3-1 triumph at the Mestalla in the Copa del Rey two months later.
Valencia have won on their previous two visits to Celta Vigo though.
Players to watch: Larsen in form
Norwegian striker Jorgen Larsen grabbed his 16th goal of an impressive season last week in a win against Granada and he is 15/8 to score anytime with bet365.
Pepelu has scored three goals in his last five matches for Valencia and also takes their penalties. He is 11/2 with bet365 to score on Sunday.
Predicted line-ups:
Celta Vigo could be without sidelined duo Mihailo Ristic and Joseph Aidoo, while Valencia could be missing injured trio Jaume Domenech, Mouctar Diakhaby and Fran Perez.
Celta Vigo: Villar; Manquillo, Starfelt, Dominguez; Mingueza, Beltran, Rodriguez, Sanchez; Bamba, Aspas, Swedberg
Valencia: Mamardashvili, Correia, Mosquera, Ozkacar, Foulquier, D Lopez, Guillamon, Pepelu, Guerra, Almeida, Duro.
Anything else catch the eye?
The hosts are in fine form and Valencia are in anything but and the obvious call here in a match that means very little to an off-form Valencia is a home win.
The visitors have looked like they are keen to get on the beach as early as possible and a difficult game becomes even more tricky when you consider how well the hosts are on their own patch recently.
With little to play for, you would expect goals at both ends here and Celta have won their last five games with both teams having scored. So go for a home win and both teams to score at a nice 3/1 with bet365.
This La Liga match between Celta Vigo and Valencia will be played on May 26, 2024 and kick off at 15:15. Check below for our tipsters best Celta Vigo vs Valencia prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
