Aiming to seal a seventh-placed finish in the La Liga table and Europa League qualification, Celta Vigo will travel to the Estadio Coliseum to take on Getafe on the final day of the season on Saturday.
The visitors head into the weekend with a one-point lead over eighth spot after a defeat last time out, while their hosts climbed up to 13th place with a victory last Sunday.
Match preview
Getafe head into the final day of the La Liga season on Saturday aiming to end the campaign with back-to-back victories, having ended a dismal run last time out.
After dropping to an eventual 12th-placed finish with a losing run to end the 2023-24 campaign, the Azulones find themselves 13th with one game remaining, having picked up 42 points from their 37 outings, winning 11 and losing 17 of those.
They again looked set to end the term in a slump, after sitting 11th on 39 points from 30 matches, as a run of six straight defeats came between mid-April and mid-May, conceding 11 goals and only scoring once along the way as the rut culminated in a 3-0 beating at the hands of Valencia and a 2-0 home loss to Athletic Bilbao.
Jose Bordalas‘s side were finally able to end that losing run last weekend, though, as they visited Mallorca on Sunday and prevailed in a 2-1 triumph, having led by two goals through Mauro Arambarri and Christantus Uche before Cyle Larin pulled one back for the hosts in injury time.
Now finding themselves three points behind 12th-placed Valencia with a superior goal difference and one ahead of 14th Alaves, Getafe will bid to end their campaign on a relative high with a final-day win to make it back-to-back triumphs.
They face a tough test, though, as the visitors arrive at the Estadio Coliseum aiming to guarantee their Europa League qualification in what has been a strong season.
Celta Vigo head into the final day in seventh spot in La Liga, with their sights set on a first appearance on the continental stage next term since the 2016-17 campaign, when they reached the Europa League semi-finals.
On the back of three straight bottom-half finishes in the Spanish top flight, Los Celestes have staked a strong claim this term, earning 52 points from their 37 outings thanks to 15 victories alongside 15 defeats.
Claudio Giraldez‘s side moved into a strong position in the fight for the final Europa League spot with back-to-back wins over Sevilla and Real Sociedad in mid-May, but they would fail to guarantee seventh spot at home to fellow top-seven chasers Rayo Vallecano last time out, suffering a 2-1 defeat despite leading through Marcos Alonso, as Isi Palazon and Jorge de Frutos turned the game round for the visitors.
Now only leading Rayo Vallecano by a single point, Celta Vigo make the trip on Saturday needing an away victory to guarantee their spot in the league phase of next season’s Europa League, ending an eight-year wait.
Team News
Getafe should field a similar starting XI from last week’s return to winning ways away at Mallorca, with Alex Sola remaining sidelined by an injury.
They do have two fresh selection concerns, though, with midfielder Luis Milla suspended for an accumulation of yellow cards, while defender Domingos Duarte may be confined to the treatment room after being forced off on the hour mark in that game.
He could be replaced by Juan Berrocal in a back four, while Yellu Santiago may join key man Mauro Arambarri in the engine room in Milla’s absence and Ramon Terrats should again partner Borja Mayoral up front.
Celta Vigo will remain without defender Carl Starfelt and midfielder Jailson on Saturday due to ongoing injuries.
Pablo Duran got the nod to lead the line last time out, but he faces competition from top scorers Borja Iglesias and veteran Iago Aspas, with the latter having netted 150 goals and provided 61 assists over the last 10 La Liga campaigns for Los Celestes.
Former Barcelona man Oscar Mingueza offers key attacking support from a wing-back role, while Ilaix Moriba, who spent last season on loan with Getafe, and Fran Beltran are bound to continue their midfield partnership.
Getafe possible starting lineup:
Soria; Nyom, Alderete, Berrocal, Rico; Iglesias, Arambarri, Milla, Uche; Terrats, Mayoral
Celta Vigo possible starting lineup:
Guaita; Rodriguez, Lago, Alonso; Mingueza, Moriba, Beltran, Ristic; Lopez, Aspas, Swedberg
We say: Getafe 1-2 Celta Vigo
Despite the two sides’ differing fortunes last time out, we back Celta Vigo to bounce back with a crucial victory on the final day to seal seventh spot and a Europa League league phase spot.
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