The La Liga Matchday 17 fixture between Oviedo and Celta will take place on 20 December at Estadio Carlos Tartiere. Oviedo vs Celta: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Oviedo
The Asturians remain deep in crisis. Last week Oviedo were comfortably beaten 0-4 by Sevilla, extending their winless run in La Liga to nine matches (4 draws, 5 defeats). In a single game they conceded more than they had in the previous five rounds combined. The club has now failed to score in six consecutive league matches. Oviedo have scored just seven goals in the current La Liga season — by some distance the worst return in the division — and have managed only two wins so far. The team sit 19th in the table, above only Levante. Following the defeat to Sevilla the club appointed their second head coach of the season; Guillermo Almada, formerly of Valladolid, is now in charge.
- Oviedo have conceded in 10 of their last 13 La Liga matches.
- No more than two goals have been scored in each of Oviedo's last five home fixtures in this competition.
- Oviedo have shipped 26 goals in the current La Liga campaign — only two clubs have conceded more.
Probable Oviedo line-up (4-2-3-1)*
Aarón Escandell – Rahim Alhassan, David Costas, David Carmo, Lucas Aihado – Santiago Colombatto, Leander Dendoncker – Hessem Hassan, Alberto Reina, Ilyas Chaira – Salomón Rondón.
Defender Álvaro Lemos is injured. Forward Federico Viñas and midfielder Santi Cazorla have served suspensions, but now defender David Carmo is suspended and has also left to take part in the Africa Cup of Nations. The participation of midfielder Ovi Edjari and defender Nacho Vidal is doubtful.
Celta
Celta recorded a 2-0 away win over Athletic Bilbao at the weekend, their third victory in four La Liga rounds. Over the last nine league matches the Galicians have lost only twice and have largely stopped producing draws as they did early in the season. Celta's uncompromising run in La Liga now stands at seven matches (5 wins, 2 defeats). Over the past two months the club have climbed to eighth in the table and are just three points outside the European places. Notably, they have been strong on the road this season, collecting 14 away points in La Liga — bettered only by Barcelona (16) and Real Madrid (21).
- Celta have scored in 14 of their last 15 league fixtures.
- Their scoring run away from home in this competition now stretches to 18 matches.
- At least two goals have been scored in 16 of Celta's last 18 La Liga matches.
Probable Celta line-up (3-4-3)*
Andrei Radu – Carl Starfelt, Manu Fernández, Marcos Alonso – Óscar Mingueza, Hugo Sotelo, Miguel Román, Javi Rueda – Viliot Svedberg, Ferran Jutglà, Iago Aspas.
Defender Carlos Domínguez and forward Pablo Durán are unavailable through injury. The involvement of defender Joseph Aidoo is in doubt.
Match prediction Oviedo – Celta
Oviedo are still enduring a bleak spell with no clear signs of a turnaround. Their last league victory came back in September and the nine-game winless run (4 draws, 5 defeats) includes eight matches in which they failed to score; the club are currently without a goal in six straight league games. At home Oviedo have gone six La Liga matches without a win (3 draws, 3 defeats), and their last five home fixtures have been goalless for them.
Celta, by contrast, have found strong form and are closing in on the European places. In the last seven La Liga rounds they have won five times, and notably four of those wins came on the road. This season the club have lost only one of seven away matches and that solitary defeat preceded a current run of four straight wins.
The visitors look the more likely side to take points, so my prediction – Celta (Asian handicap 0)
*Each probable line-up reflects the team that started their previous match in this competition.
