untitled-design-2024-10-19t124008-053.png
Getty Images

Real Madrid can stretch their unbeaten run in La Liga to 10 games so far this season when they visit Celta Vigo on Saturday. Los Blancos got back to winning ways last time out at home to Villarreal after drawing with bitter rivals Atletico Madrid and first up after the October international beak is a trip to Balaidos. Carlo Ancelotti's men are second in the Spanish topflight with 21 points from nine games while the Galicians are ninth on 13 points.

Celta went into the international period with a 1-0 win over Las Palmas thanks to a Borja Iglesias goal and Claudio Giraldez's side are the third-best home side in La Liga with 10 points from 15 taken in Vigo. This Real side only has one win from four away games so far although Celta have lost their last eight games against Los Merengues. The last win for the Sky Blues against Real in La Liga came over 10 years ago.

Ancelotti saw his side beat Villarreal just before the internationals having drawn with Atletico and lost to Lille OSC. The remainder of October will be challenging with Borussia Dortmund visiting in the UEFA Champions League before the visit of Barcelona next weekend. Real are on a roll of three wins over Celta without conceding a goal but their road form has been an issue this year. Kylian Mbappe has five goals from eight games in La Liga while Vini Jr. and Rodrygo have three apiece but the attack is not functioning as expected so far.

Here's our storylines, how you can watch the match and more:

How to watch and odds

  • Date: Saturday, October 19 | Time: 3 p.m. ET
  • Location: Estadio Balaidos - Vigo, Spain
  • Watch: ESPN Deportes | Stream: Fubo (try for free)
  • Odds: Celta +450; Draw +320; Real -167

Story so far

Celta have four wins, one draw and four losses so far with 13 points from nine games to sit ninth in the standings. The Galicians have scored 16 goals so far this campaign with only Barca, Real and Villarreal scoring more often. However, 15 goals conceded does tell its own tale as it is one of the three worst tallies in La Liga so far. Real are not at their best yet but they remain second and have a chance to close the gap on Barca next week in El Clasico.

Team news

Celta: Iago Aspas and Ilaix Moriba ae both suspended after being sent off against Las Palmas and they are joined by Jailson and Luca de la Torre in missing out. Jonathan Bamba is a doubt while Carl Starfelt is expected to be fit but no Aspas nor Moriba could mean that Pablo Duran and Franco Cervi start.

Possible Celta XI: Guaita; Manquillo, Starfelt, Alonso; Mingueza, Beltran, Cervi, Alvarez; Duran, Iglesias, Swedberg.

Real: Thibaut Courtois is a doubt so Andriy Lunin should continue while Dani Carvajal's season is over through injury. Los Blancos should have Eder Militao and Vinicius available again while Dani Ceballos was in the squad against Villarreal. Brahim Diaz and David Alaba are still out but Mbappe and Jude Bellingham are expected to start while Lucas Vazquez should replace Carvajal.

Possible Real XI: Lunin; Vazquez, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy; Valverde, Tchouameni, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Mbappe, Vinicius.

Prediction

It could be tight but Real should edge Celta by a goal or so with both sides scoring definitely a possibility. The Galician hosts have more issues keeping goals out than scoring them so a narrow win for Los Blancos sounds about right. Pick: Celta 1, Real 2.