Our prediction for this Primera Division match:
Celta Vigo and Athletic Club face each other at Estadio de Balaidos in what is expected to be a closer La Liga encounter. Os Celeste aim to build on a thrilling 4-3 win over Huesca where Santi Mina scored his sixth goal of the season, and you should bear in mind that they are eyeing their seventh home win of the season. The good news for the hosts is that Peru defender Renato Tapia returns from suspension.
The Basques, on the other hand, did well to beat Granada at home at the weekend, but given their anything but brilliant away record, we are tempted to put our money on the Galicians this time out. Inigo Martinez is banned for the match, but he should be the only absentee in the away team. In the first half of the season Celta defeated Athletic 2-0 at San Mames.
Highlighted Player (Nolito):
Widely known as Nolito, Manuel Agudo Durán is a Spanish forward born on 15 October 1986 in Sanlucar de Barrameda, who has had an unconventional path to stardom. The highly rated footballer did not go through Barcelona’s famous La Masia youth academy, but he rather joined the B side in 2008 and went on to show a great deal of potential.
Nolito also made a couple of performances for the senior side, but ultimately left for Benfica in an attempt to secure regular playing time. That proved an excellent decision as the winger produced some scintillating showings at Estadio da Luz, and following a loan spell with Granada, he returned to La Liga to sign for Celta Vigo. During his time at Balaidos, Nolito developed into one of league’s leading footballers, usually playing on the left wing and wreaking havoc after cutting inside.
The experienced footballer scored almost 40 league goals in first 100 appearances for the Sky Blues, while also breaking into the Spain national team, and despite making his La Furia Roja debut at the age of 28, he quickly became an important player for the side.
Highlighted Team (Athletic Bilbao):
Athletic Club (mostly known as Athletic de Bilbao) is a Spanish football club from the Bask region which is playing currently in the Primera Division. The club from Bilbao is playing in the highest Spanish division since its founded in 1928 and is next to Real Madrid and FC Barcelona for a longest period of time in the Primera Division. Athletic de Bilbao used to play until 2012 in the San Mames stadium (also known as La Catedral).
Since 2013 the club is playing in anew stadium. Athletic Bilbao is known for its rivalry with Real Madrid. Atletico Madrid was founded by Bask students in Madrid. The old relationship between both teams is visible in the red blue jerseys of both teams.
The second team Athletic de Bilbao is playing in the Segunda Division B in Spain. Athletic Bilbao won the Primera Division 8 times, the Copa del Rey 24 times, the Spanish super cup 2 times. Athletic de Bilbao didn’t won any prizes in Europe yet but managed to be the runner up in 1977 and 2012 in the UEFA cup.