Our prediction for this Primera Division match:
After suffering a 2-0 loss to Valencia at Estadio de Mestalla, Celta Vigo will be looking to give fans yet another reason for celebration when they take on Real Valladolid in the La Liga round 25. Os Celeste aim to keep their Europa League hopes alive, and we are positive that they will go all guns blazing at Valladolid. First-choice goalkeeper Ruben Blanco is banned for the match, with Ivan Villar likely to step up.
Considering that both Aspas and Mendez return from suspension, we believe that home win should be considered. La Pucela, on the other hand, suffered a 1-0 loss to Real Madrid, with the team remaining in the relegation zone. Real Valladolid do not seem to be at their sharpest ahead of the trip to Galicia, which is yet another reason why we are tempted to put our money on the hosts. Lucas Olaza is back from suspension for the visiting team.
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 (Valladolid):
Real Valladolid is a Spanish club based in Valladolid, the part of the autonomous community of Castille and Leon. Founded in 1928, Real Valladolid play their home matches at Jose Zorilla, the venue that has the capacity 26,512. La Pucela have yet to win the La Liga title, but it is important to note that they finished fourth at the end of the 1962/1963 season.
Real Valladolid made it to the Spanish Cup final on two occasions (1949/1950, 1988/1989). In 1984 they won Copa de la Liga (League Cup), which is considered the team’s biggest success. Speaking of their European records, Real Valladolid participated in the 1989/1990 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup quarter-finals.
La Pucela are well known for their purple and white shirts, but they are known for some top-class footballers as well. The likes of Diego Costa, Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Borja Fernandez, Rene Higuita, Luis Garcia and Aritz Aduriz played for Real Valladolid in the past.