Atletico Madrid vs Celta Vigo Predictions

• Atletico Madrid have won 15, drawn one and lost only one league game at home this season
• Atletico have conceded at least one goal in five of their last six home La Liga matches
• Celta Vigo have scored at least once in eight of their last 11 away games in all competitions

Simeone’s tinkering unlikely to change Atleti trait

Atletico Madrid can get the win they need against Celta Vigo at Civitas Metropolitano on Sunday, but their recent pattern of conceding at home could well continue.

Diego Simeone tinkered with his tactics against Mallorca last weekend, deploying a 5-4-1 formation in response to Antoine Griezmann’s suspension. His side’s 1-0 win was accompanied by their first clean sheet in three months and reports suggest he will stick with the same system with Griezmann shunted into a slightly wider role this weekend.

Los Rojiblancos have still been getting the job done at home, despite their unusually leaky defence as they have regularly been winning games with both teams on the scoresheet.

Celta strikeforce looks potent post-Benitez

And, despite Simeone’s best efforts, that trend looks likely to continue against a Celta side that have become much more enjoyable to watch after Rafa Benitez’s sacking.

Os Celestes scored just 30 goals and took only 24 points in Benitez’s 28 league games in charge, but have scored 10 and accumulated 10 points in the six matches since.

Celta beat Villarreal 3-2 last weekend to virtually secure their safety and that was no mean feat to break down a well-disciplined Yellow Submarines side that were a goal up when they were reduced to 10 men in the 17th minute. Iago Aspas, Jorgen Strand Larsen and Tasos Douvikas have all been among the goals of late and can penetrate Atleti’s backline on Sunday even if Simeone sticks everyone behind the ball.