Celta Vigo vs Real Madrid: Preview, predictions and lineups | OneFootball

Celta Vigo host reigning Spanish and European champions Real Madrid as La Liga gets back underway on Saturday night.

Claudio Giraldez was hurriedly promoted from Celta's B team to take over from former Madrid boss Rafa Benitez last season. The 36-year-old steered the club away from relegation and has enjoyed such an impressive start to the new campaign that he penned a new three-year contract over this month's international break.

Real Madrid's Carlo Ancelotti is at the other end of his coaching career. The veteran manager will take charge of his 200th La Liga game from the helm of the capital club this weekend, trying to close the gap up to early pace-setters Barcelona.

Here's everything you need to know about this intriguing, generational clash.

Celta Vigo vs Real Madrid H2H Record

Current form (all competitions)

How to watch Celta Vigo vs Real Madrid on TV and live stream

Celta Vigo team news

Celta Vigo's star forward Iago Aspas will be missing against Real Madrid / Octavio Passos/GettyImages

Celta earned a 1-0 victory over Las Palmas in their most recent outing despite playing more than half an hour with nine men. Referee Adrian Cordero flashed four yellow cards in as many minutes to Ilaix Moriba and club captain Iago Aspas.

Two minutes after getting booked for a late barge, Moriba was shown a harsh second yellow after falling into his opponent. Aspas protested this decision - earning a booking of his own - before completing the burst of self-destruction by arguing with the referee over a yellow card for Oscar Minguez barely 60 seconds later. Celta's skipper tried to order his side off the pitch, but the rest of his teammates stayed to battle out three hard-earned points.

Neither Moriba nor Aspas will face Madrid, while doubts loom over the injured duo of Jailson (thigh) and Luca de la Torre (ankle).

Celta Vigo predicted lineup vs Real Madrid

Celta Vigo predicted lineup vs Real Madrid (5-3-2): Guaita; Mingueza, Manquillo, Starfelt, Alonso, Alvarez; Sotelo, Beltran, Swedberg; Duran, Iglesias.

Real Madrid team news

Thibaut Courtois could make his return this weekend / Florencia Tan Jun/GettyImages

Kylian Mbappe's decision to pull out of the French national team this month raised plenty of eyebrows - especially as he had been fit enough to start Madrid's most recent fixture against Villarreal. Didier Deschamps' captain caused further controversy by visiting a nightclub during his time off, but Ancelotti has no issues with his marquee summer arrival.

The relaxed Italian coach revealed that Mbappe is "close to 100%" and will likely be available for selection alongside Vinicius Junior.

There are some doubts over Rodrygo and Federico Valverde, who both arrived late in the week after returning from international duty in South America with Brazil and Uruguay respectively. The retired Belgium international, Thibaut Courtois, has had two free weeks to successfully get over an adductor issue.

Long-term absentee Dani Carvajal may not be joined on the sidelines by David Alaba for too much longer, as the Austria international is creeping towards a return from his ACL tear.

Real Madrid predicted lineup vs Celta Vigo (4-3-3): Courtois; Vazquez, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy; Valverde, Camavinga, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Mbappe, Vinicius.

Celta Vigo vs Real Madrid score prediction

Celta boss Giraldez delivered a telling line when addressing the media ahead of Real Madrid's visit: "I know what I want to happen, but predicting what will happen is difficult." The visitors have such a wide array of attacking weapons and are managed by the most tactically versatile coach of the modern era.

There is no way of telling whether Madrid will press high or sit back, funnel the ball out wide or flood the midfield. One thing, however, is quite likely to happen: Real Madrid will avoid defeat. The capital outfit have not lost a league game since September 2023 - and have won the vast majority of those subsequent 41 outings.