Bitesize Prediction: Espanyol vs Celta Vigo

Competition: La Liga

Market: Over 1.5 goals

Odds: 4/9

Hoping to find a route into the top-half of the La Liga table on Saturday evening, Celta Vigo will make the trip to the RCDE Stadium when they meet Espanyol.

Starting with the hosts, while Espanyol might have claimed a much-needed boost last month, Diego Martínez’s men have failed to keep up that momentum since opening 2023. Last seen putting in a downbeat display away at defending champions Real Madrid as they were hit with a routine 3-1 loss, the Periquitos are firmly looking over their shoulder at the drop zone. Now suffering back-to-back La Liga defeats, the Catalonia-based outfit holding just a one-point buffer from slipping into the bottom-three. Mustering just a pair of wins from their last seven domestic contests, Martínez will have a growing headache over his side’s extended struggles at the back. In fact, including a 2-1 defeat away at Real Valladolid on March 5th, it should be noted that Espanyol have failed to record a single La Liga clean sheet since the end of January.

As for the visitors, putting in a stellar display last weekend as they breezed their way to a 3-0 romp at home against Rayo Vallecano, the mood in Celta Vigo’s camp should be at a real high. Now sat just a single point adrift of breaking into the top-half, Carlos Carvalhal’s men should be smelling the chance to make another La Liga statement here. Likewise, signing off February with another 3-0 victory against Real Valladolid, the one-time Sheffield Wednesday boss has seen his side lose just one of their seven domestic outings. With that run highlighted by a remarkable 4-3 win away at Real Betis last month, Celta have really found a clinical edge in the final third. It should be noted, with three of the last four meetings between Saturday’s opponents finishing with over 2.5 goals, a similar outcome can be found at generous odds.