Celta Vigo vs Atletico Madrid Prediction: Hosts’ home record to end

Celta Vigo welcome Atletico Madrid to Balaidos in La Liga on Thursday (20:00, Premier Sports 1), looking to keep their perfect record at home going. The Sky Blues have been a different entity on the road with three defeats, but they are expected to be much better when playing on home soil.

Atletico Madrid are yet to taste defeat in La Liga and so you would have to say that the momentum is with them heading into this clash. Below you will find my Celta Vigo vs Atletico Madrid prediction, accompanied by match odds and team news.

Celta Vigo vs Atletico Madrid Odds

Celta Vigo are 11/4 to win this match, which gives them a theoretical chance of 26.7%. Atletico Madrid are priced at 19/20 to take the three points, giving them an implied probability of 51.3%. The draw can be backed at 13/5 (27.8%).

Both teams to score is on offer at 8/13 and over 2.5 goals is available at 8/11.

Celta forward Iago Aspas has netted three goals in the league so far, and he is valued at 12/5 to score anytime on Thursday. Atleti attacker Antoine Griezmann has two himself and he is 7/4 to find the back of the net at any stage during this contest.

Football Odds

Team News 

Oscar Mingueza has become the latest Celta player to pick up an injury, with his coming in the 3-1 defeat to Athletic Club last time out. So he won't have a part to play in this match. He joins Luca de la Torre and Mihailo Ristic in the medical bay.

Mingueza's absence should lead to a shuffle at the back. Hugo Alvarez is expected to be moved over to right wing-back to make way for former Barcelona and Chelsea man Marcos Alonso to come in and play on the left.

Boss Claudio Giraldez Gonzalez could also be tempted to bring in some fresh legs to the side, which could see the likes of Williot Swedberg, Ilaix Moriba and Fran Beltran get a run out.

Striker Borja Iglesias will be pushing for a start having scored three goals already this season.

For Atletico Madrid, they will be without the services of the experienced Cesar Azpilicueta following a muscle problem he picked up in the draw with Rayo Vallecano last time out. Pablo Barrios and Thomas Lemar are also doubts to feature due to their own injury problems.

Atleti could be boosted by the return of Rodrigo De Paul, though, as he looks to be back to full fitness himself. Griezmann wasn't in the starting lineup in the last match but he is expected to come back in for this clash.

Manager Diego Simeone might also contemplate recalling the likes of Jose Maria Gimenez, Robin Le Normand and Rodrigo Riquelme to the starting XI.

Atletico Madrid and both teams to score @ 5/2

Celta's current struggles on the road will have them wanting to keep their winning streak at home going but it's going to be a tough ask against Simeone's men. Atleti are one of three sides unbeaten in La Liga, with the other two being Barcelona and Real Madrid.

The visitors will consider their draw with Rayo at home as a setback, so they will look to get back to winning ways here. I would say that they have much stronger squad depth than the hosts, but their home record cannot be underestimated.

I am expecting this to be another challenging game for Atletico Madrid, but one I believe they can still win because of the options they have available. Griezmann supposedly coming back into the starting lineup would be a huge boost and immediately give them a greater attacking threat.

Celta Vigo have seen 13 goals go past them already in six matches, yet they have also scored 14 themselves. Aspas and Iglesias have three apiece and they look to be the danger men for the hosts, so I wouldn't be surprised to see them get on the scoresheet.

They will find it challenging, however, as Atleti have one of the best defences in the league currently with just three goals conceded. Although, I am assuming they will be stunned that they conceded at home to Rayo Vallecano so there could be a degree of vulnerability in their play here.

I'm backing the visitors to win but I think both teams to score is worth having to boost the odds.

Conor Gallagher anytime goalscorer @ 9/2

He may not be Atleti's biggest attacking threat but midfielder Conor Gallagher is on a scoring streak, having netted in his last two La Liga matches. It hasn't taken long for the Chelsea academy graduate to settle into his new surroundings in Madrid, and he is fast becoming a fan favourite, with his name already being sung by the Colchoneros faithful.

Gallagher is expected to keep his place in midfield, and rightly so because he has all the attributes Simeone loves in a midfielder - a bit of everything. He will be pleased to see his summer signing adding goals to his game this early in the season because contributions from midfield could go a long way in terms of how the season plays out.

The midfielder will be full of confidence heading into Thursday's game and I think it might just be worth backing him to find the back of the net for the third successive game.

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