Celta Vigo vs Atletico Madrid

Resurgent Celta Vigo will be looking to deliver another upset when they lock horns with long-term top-four La Liga tenants Atletico Madrid at the Estadio de Balaídos.

Celta Vigo defied the odds to pick up only their second La Liga win of the season as pre-match outsiders (W2, D2, L5), toppling Real Betis 4-3 on the road last weekend. Despite stringing together back-to-back league wins for only the second time this term, ‘Los Celestes’ can ill-afford to get complacent as they start this round just three points clear of 18th-placed Valencia. Winless in their last eight top-flight encounters against Atletico Madrid (D3, L5), Celta will be looking to buck that trend and post a third league victory on the trot for the first time in almost two years. That’s easier said than done, with Carlos Carvalhal’s side suffering five defeats in their last seven La Liga matches against Atletico on home turf (W1, D1).

In the meantime, Atletico Madrid’s pursuit of an 11th successive top-four finish in La Liga suffered another setback last weekend as Diego Simeone’s men could only manage an underwhelming 1-1 home draw against perennial relegation strugglers Getafe. That result may have extended the visitors’ unbeaten league run to four games (W2, D2), yet it also means they begin this round only three points clear of fifth-placed Rayo Vallecano. Playing on the road has not been Atletico’s strong suit this term by any stretch of the imagination, though a 1-0 beating of Osasuna on their last travel put a frustrating three-game winless away league streak to bed (D1, L2).