Celta Vigo vs Valencia Predictions

• At least three goals have been scored in Celta Vigo’s last five home La Liga matches, including last week’s win over Alaves
• At least three goals have been scored in two of Valencia’s last three away league games, including a 2-2 draw at Celta Vigo last May
• Hugo Duro scored in Valencia’s 2-1 loss to Barcelona last week and a recent 3-2 friendly win over Eintracht Frankfurt

Celta boss keeps it open

Celta Vigo will attempt to build on their opening weekend home win over Alaves when they entertain Valencia at the Balaidos on Friday evening. Claudio Giraldez’s side got their campaign off to a winning start thanks to second-half goals from Williot Swedberg and Iago Aspas, but the Galicians’ defending was not great.

Kike Garcia was afforded far too much space at the back post for Alaves’ opening goal and the visitors missed two great one-on-one chances when the scores were level in the second half.

Giraldez is a former Celta B boss in his first senior coaching role and his team set-up looks a bit too open to be sustainable in the long-term. It garnered enough points to keep them up last season as the goals-per-game ratio rose to 3.0 from 2.6 under his predecessor Rafa Benitez.

Goals look guaranteed at the Balaidos

Backing over 2.5 goals in this contest makes more sense than siding with either of two untrustworthy teams. Valencia made a great start at home to Barcelona last weekend before being undone by fine margins either side of the break.

Striker Hugo Duro put them ahead with a finer header and saw another effort cleared off the line that could have at least ensured Ruben Baraja’s outfit took a point. Los Che’s 13-goal top scorer from last season was on the mark in a friendly the weekend before and looks a standout candidate to get on the scoresheet again on Friday.

Valencia might be the play at underdog odds if goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili was guaranteed to be between the posts again, but with transfer talk swirling around the big Georgian, it is wiser to back at least three goals in the contest for a sixth consecutive Celta home league fixture.