Preview: Celta Vigo vs. Athletic Bilbao - prediction, team news, lineups

After both making relatively slow starts to the La Liga season, Celta Vigo and Athletic Bilbao will do battle on Saturday in the third round of fixtures this campaign.

The visitors find themselves in the bottom five of the La Liga table, with just one point from their two games, while their hosts have drawn both of their first two matches.

Match preview

© Reuters

After last season's eighth-placed finish, Celta Vigo headed into the new campaign with optimism, but they were handed a particularly tough start as they hosted defending champions Atletico Madrid.

Angel Correa put the visitors ahead, but Iago Aspas drew Los Celestes level on the hour mark before Correa quickly hit his second to see Atletico Madrid return home with a 2-1 victory.

Eduardo Coudet's men were able to collect their first point of the season last time out, as they made the trip to Osasuna and played out a goalless draw with a resolute outfit.

With their sights set on another battle for the top seven this season, having narrowly missed out last year, Los Celestes will look to pick up their first win of the season on Saturday, in what would be an important result against a side who could be battling for similar spots.

© Reuters

A disappointing end saw Athletic Bilbao eventually finish in 10th spot last season, and they will be keen to improve on that this time around and fight for European football.

They travelled to Elche on the opening day and played out a somewhat disappointing goalless draw against a side who only narrowly avoided the drop last season.

However, Marcelino's men earned a far more creditable point last time out, as they took on Barcelona, a side they have been known to take points off on several occasions in the last few seasons.

Athletic had a strong showing in the first half and took the lead soon after the break through Inigo Martinez, but Memphis Depay drew the Spanish giants level with 15 minutes to go.

Despite having a good chance of winning that game, Marcelino's side should certainly take the positives from that point, and they will have their sights set on a victory on Saturday, with five points from the first three games signifying a strong start.

Team News

© Reuters

Celta Vigo come into the game without defenders Kevin Vazquez and Jose Fontan, as both continue to recover from injuries.

Miguel Baeza is also a major doubt, but Hugo Mallo will return on the right-hand side of the back four after serving a suspension last time out.

Despite the impressive capture of attacker Thiago Galhardo, the established front line of Santi Mina and Iago Aspas will remain untouched with the support of Nolito, Denis Suarez and Brais Mendez.

Yuri Berchiche and Peru Nolaskoain are both out of action for Athletic Bilbao, while Yeray Alvarez and Inigo Cordoba are also expected to miss out.

Marcelino continues to rely on an established core of players, with Alex Berenguer and Iker Muniain operating on the flanks and Inaki Williams leading the line, as he looks for his first La Liga goal of the season.

Meanwhile, Dani Vivian and Inigo Martinez will continue to partner up at the heart of the back four.

Celta Vigo possible starting lineup:
Dituro; Mallo, Araujo, Aidoo, Galan; Tapia; Mendez, Suarez, Nolito; Mina, Aspas

Athletic Bilbao possible starting lineup:
Agirrezabala; De Marcos, Vivian, Martinez, Balenziaga; Berenguer, Garcia, Vencedor, Muniain; Williams, Sancet

We say: Celta Vigo 1-1 Athletic Bilbao

Both sides will feel they have to pick up a positive result in this game as they both aim to pip other teams to a top-seven finish at the end of the season, while both will look to improve on slow starts.

Celta Vigo had the far stronger finish to last season but looked toothless against Osasuna, and we cannot quite split the sides on Saturday, instead predicting a low-scoring draw.