Krasnodar vs Celta Vigo Predictions, Betting Tips and Match Previews

Krasnodar have already gone above and beyond this season by making it further than they ever have before in European competition. Admittedly their history in Europe is just three seasons old, but their continued improvement in the competition will be a very promising sign for the fans.

They do trail in this tie though. Their trip to Spain was goalless at half-time before the hosting Celta took the lead, but Krasnodar pegged them back just six minutes later despite their hosts having the vast majority of the ball. That goal for Krasnodar was their only shot on target, and whilst the 90th minute goal they conceded will have hurt, they can’t argue that Celta didn’t deserve the win in the end.

Krasnodar do have an away goal to play with though, and Russia is a notoriously difficult place to visit in European football. They followed that defeat up with a 2-1 win over Lokomotiv Moscow on Monday as well, ending a run of four winless games and leaving them 4th in the Russian Premier League.

Celta Vigo’s win last week ended their three match winless streak, but the winning ways didn’t last long, as they submitted to a 1-0 defeat at home to Villarreal on Sunday. This leaves them with three wins, three draws, and five defeats in their last 11 outings in all competitions, putting them 11th in La Liga.

In Europe they have been impressive this season though, shaking off the rustiness of ten seasons without European competition to finish 2nd in their group and knock the in form Shakhtar Donetsk out in the last round.

Away from home they have lost four of their last seven games in all competitions though, and they’re facing a Krasnodar side who haven’t lost at home since an October defeat to Schalke in the group stages. The hosts have only won seven of the 13 games since then though, and they have conceded in seven of them as well.

Celta will be going for an away goal here to bolster their chances of progression, and they have scored in ten of their last 13 matches on the road. I can see them getting a goal here, but the fact they have conceded in nine of these 13 games and Krasnodar have scored in 12 of their last 13 at home mean they are unlikely to keep a clean sheet too. Odds of 4/5 for Both Teams to Score look good value for money, so I’m backing that alongside a 2-1 win for Krasnodar at 17/2 which would see the tie go to extra time.