Valencia vs Celta Vigo Predictions

• Valencia are unbeaten in five (W3, D2).
• Celta Vigo have won just one of their 10 away La Liga games, losing five.
• Celta have failed to score in their last five trips to the Mestalla.

Celta and Benitez test for Los Che and Baraja

The master faces the apprentice at the Mestalla on Wednesday as Ruben Baraja’s Valencia host Rafael Benitez’s Celta Vigo in the Copa del Rey.

Baraja was a key component in the Los Che side created by Benitez between 2001 and 2004 who overcame the dominance of the El Clasico rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona to win two La Liga titles against all the odds.

Now Baraja must find a way to outwit the seasoned Celta coach to plot a way to the quarter-finals in this competition.

And Valencia look well placed to prolong their cup run as they have started 2024 in determined fashion.

Los Che have won two and drawn one of their three fixtures since the turn of the year and they are unbeaten in five matches in all competitions.

A 4-1 win at Cadiz last time out suggests they are in fine fettle and they can overcome a Celta side who have won just four of their 13 away matches this season in all competitions.

Celta haven’t won at this venue since 2017 and that run looks set to be extended despite the best efforts of wily boss Benitez.

A 1-0 win for Valencia is the correct score prediction as Celta have failed to score in each of their last five visits to the Mestalla, but Los Che have only scored 12 goals in nine home La Liga games so they are unlikely to win by a big margin here.