The eighth round of the Spanish football championship will be highlighted by a clash between Celta and Atlético Madrid. Both teams come into the match in high spirits after successful performances on the European stage: the Madrid side secured a confident victory in the Champions League, while the Galicians triumphed in the Europa League.
For Celta, this success was their first of the current season, as the Vigo side has yet to secure a win in the national league. In the match against PAOK, the team managed to turn the game around after conceding a goal, with Aspas, Borja Iglesias, and Villot all scoring. Borja Iglesias’s scoring streak deserves special mention—he has found the net in each of the last six matches, equaling a record set back in the late 1940s.
Atlético, under Diego Simeone’s management, has been in impressive form. In a recent La Liga match, the Madrid side thrashed Real, then scored five goals against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League. These results have boosted the team’s confidence ahead of the next round of domestic fixtures.
The head-to-head history does not favor Celta: over the last thirteen La Liga meetings with Atlético, the Galician side has failed to win, recording four draws and nine defeats. Under Claudio Giráldez, Celta has faced the Madrid side three times, suffering two narrow losses and earning one draw.
Before the game, Celta’s coach expressed confidence that his players are capable of challenging the favorite if they stick to their style. Alexander Sørloth returned to Atlético’s roster, while goalkeeper Juan Musso will miss the match due to health reasons. This was the only change in the list of players available to Simeone.
The match will be officiated by referee César Soto from Rioja, with Juan Luis Pulido overseeing the VAR system. The starting lineups for both teams are expected to be announced shortly before kickoff.
The match will take place at the Balaídos stadium in Vigo. Supporters of both teams are eagerly awaiting the start of a game that could impact the La Liga standings.
