La Liga, Matchday 36 on Tuesday, 13.05.2025 at 20:00
Claudio Giraldez was appointed coach of Celta Vigo last year. He said thanks in his own way and kept the club in the top flight. Just one year later, the Olivicos can smell the sweet taste of European competition.
The 37-year-old has no first division experience, but is doing an outstanding job with the Sky Blues. If Celta Vigo can hold on to seventh place, they will qualify for the Europa League next season.
I believe the Celtinas can win away in the Basque Country. I’m placing my Real Sociedad Celta Vigo bet at NEO.bet at odds of 2.55 for “Celta Vigo to score over 1.5 goals.”
There are valid reasons why Celta Vigo (7th) are not the favorites at the Reale Arena despite being in a much better position in the table than Real Sociedad (12th).
The Sky Blues have not always been lucky away from home and have only celebrated three away wins so far. However, it should be mentioned that Claudio Giraldez’s team recently caused immense problems for both Real Madrid (2-3) and Barca (3-4) as visitors.
In addition, Real Sociedad are not in good form at all. The hosts have not won in five games and have won only one of their last four home games (1D, 2L).
That’s enough for me to use the Merkur Bets bonus to bet on “Celta Vigo to win (DNB)” at odds of 1.95. After all, the Olivicos have won two of their last four away games and lost the other two only narrowly against the two best teams in La Liga.
What particularly impresses me about Celta Vigo is the way in which the Sky Blues have managed to break into the top third of the table under Claudio Giraldez.
Only three teams (Barcelona, Real Madrid, Girona) have managed more sequences of 10+ passes than Celta Vigo (500) this season.
Similarly, the statistics show that only three teams (Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Atlético Madrid) have scored more goals from open play than the Olivicos (39).
The seventh-placed team exudes confidence in possession with their preferred 5-4-1 formation and are not afraid to take on the big teams in the Spanish Primera Division.
Up front, Claudio Giraldez relies on the combined expertise of 69 years of experience. Iago Aspas (37) and Borja Iglesias (32) are the team’s two best strikers (19 goals between them).
Celta Vigo are in great form going into the final stages of the season. The visitors have scored “over 2.5 goals” in three of their last four league games.
Don’t be fooled by the 54 goals conceded (18th). Defensively, the Sky Blues are much more solid than this figure suggests.
Across the league, only four teams have conceded fewer expected goals (40.4 xGA).
One of those four teams is Real Sociedad. Nevertheless, I’m not too worried about the Real Sociedad Celta Vigo tip. It’s the home side’s form that reassures me.
Real Sociedad have not won in five games, have not scored in three consecutive league games and were recently thrashed 4-0 by Atlético Madrid.
Although the Txuri-Urdin are generally considered strong at home, they have failed to score in three of their last four league home games.
In addition, Imanol Alguacil’s side have conceded more than 1.5 goals in three of their last five games on Spanish soil.
The season is over for Real Sociedad. Their recent run of defeats has ruined any chances of qualifying for European competition.
Celta Vigo, on the other hand, are in better shape and have impressed with their remarkable attacking football in this La Liga season.
My Real Sociedad Celta Vigo prediction is: Celta Vigo to score over 1.5 goals!
