Potential relegation candidates Celta Vigo welcome bottom-of-the-league Elche to the North West of Spain at Estadio de Balaidos on Wednesday night in La Liga action.
Visitors Elche have all but confirmed their relegation to Segunda Division and sit rock bottom through 30 games, picking up just 13 points. Los Franjiverdes have registered just two wins all season and have conceded a behemoth 61 goals - nine more than the second worst defence in the league! However, Elche have seen both victories this term come since the turn of the year, despite losing their last five consecutive matches, including a 2-0 loss at home to Valencia in their previous outing.
Regardless of Eduardo Coudet’s impressive couple of seasons for Vigo that saw them finish eighth and 11th respectively, a run of just three wins from his opening 12 games in La Liga this term, that left them down in 17th, signalled the end of the Argentine’s time in charge. Carlos Carvalhal has since come in and turned things around, managing to spark a run of 15 matches between November and early April that saw just two defeats, winning six of those in the process. That has now moved them into 13th but Los Celestes do head into this one on the back of successive defeats, having lost at home to Mallorca and away to Real Madrid in their last match. Safety has yet to be sealed as they sit just six points away from the drop zone.
The last three encounters between Vigo and Elche have all finished with a scoreline of 1-0, with the former recording two wins, whilst the latter has found victory just once. Denis Suarez scored the only goal of the game the last time this fixture played out but the former Vigo man is now at Espanyol. Los Celestes picked up a 1-0 win in the reverse fixture back in January as top league goalscorer Iago Aspas found the only goal of the game.
Aspas will be the main threat for the hosts but he doesn’t enter the match in the best of form, failing to hit the back of the net in any of his last four matches. That has coincided with Vigo’s poor form too since they have failed to win any of their previous four league outings, not scoring in either of their last two.
Fellow forward Carles Perez has been in better recent form, scoring twice against Espanyol and Almeria respectively but he is a doubt here after missing the Real Madrid clash. Young midfield talent Gabri Veiga, who has been linked with the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Real Madrid, is also having an impressive campaign for Carvalhal’s men, making 13 goal contributions in La Liga thus far.
Oscar Mingueza is expected to miss out due to a muscle injury for Vigo, whilst Agustin Marchesin won’t return this season. Defender Joseph Aidoo is in doubt since he was also absent for the Madrid match.
Elche are set to be without Jony Alamo due to a knee injury, whilst Pedro Bigas is a doubt after lasting just 17 minutes in the Valencia match last time out. Jose Angel Carmona will continue to be sidelined since he has been absent for the last three games, whilst Helibelton Palacios is unlikely to feature due to a thigh problem. Pere Milla will likely pose the biggest questions for the Vigo defence and is their top goalscorer this season with seven goals.
UK viewers can catch all the drama unfold live on Viaplay UK.
Expert Insight: Elche have very little to play for at this stage and their run of five straight defeats gives the advantage to the home side. Vigo certainly don't head into the match on the best of form either and are bettered by all but four teams in the division at home this season. Nevertheless, the hosts should have too much for a weak Elche side. The visitors will probably let their emotions get the better of them too since they have received the most red cards in the La Liga this term.
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