LaLiga 26/27 · Round 9 ·
RC Celta de Vigo vs Deportivo Alaves preview: Celta Vigo host Alaves with both mid-table sides needing a win
Celta Vigo and Alaves meet at Estadio Balaidos with only a point separating them in the table. The clearest signal is Alaves's clear defensive edge on the road, conceding 1.0 goals per away match against Celta Vigo's 1.2 at home.
By 10xSharp · Published
This preview was published before kickoff. The match has finished: see the result and full stats. Read the match report.
Who is missing
Celta Vigo are without midfielders Jones El-Abdellaoui and Miguel Roman Gonzalez, both through injury. Gonzalez's absence removes a creator, as he has two assists this season, and his one goal accounts for 12% of the side's goals in this competition. Alaves have three injured players: defenders Facundo Garces and Ville Koski, plus midfielder Mikel Rodriguez. Rodriguez has scored once, and together with Koski the unavailable pair have contributed 17% of Alaves's goals this season.
Key attacking players
Alaves forward Lucas Boye leads the scoring chart for this match with 5 goals in 7 appearances, 42% of his side's goals in this competition. Mariano Diaz adds 3 goals and 3 assists, making him Alaves's most productive creator. For Celta Vigo, Pablo Duran has 2 goals in 6 matches, a modest return that still represents a quarter of the team's output. Hugo Gonzalez has 2 assists from 4 appearances and is the home side's main creative threat.
Recent form
Celta Vigo have taken 7 points from their last six league matches, with a record of one win, four draws and one defeat. Alaves have also collected 7 points from the same window, but their record of two wins, one draw and three losses shows more volatility. Both sides drew their most recent league match, and Alaves are winless in their last four matches in all competitions. Celta Vigo have had seven days since their last match, Alaves eight.
Table position
Alaves sit 7th with 11 points from 8 matches, while Celta Vigo are 9th with 8 points. At home, Celta Vigo have won once, drawn once and lost twice in four matches. Alaves have yet to win away, with two draws and one defeat from three road matches. Celta Vigo's home goal difference is plus 2, while Alaves's away goal difference is minus 1.
Recent meetings
Across the last 10 meetings, Celta Vigo have won 6 times, Alaves 2, with 2 draws. The most recent meeting, in March 2026, ended 3-4 to Alaves at this ground. In the 5 meetings at Celta Vigo's home, Celta Vigo have won 3, Alaves 1, with 1 draw. The goal difference in those home meetings is 12-6 in Celta Vigo's favour.
Attacking threat
Celta Vigo score 1.8 goals per home match across 4 home matches, level with the league average for a home side at home. Alaves manage only 0.7 goals per away match across 3 away matches, clearly worse than the league average for an away side on the road. Celta Vigo hold a clear attacking edge, driven by their home output against Alaves's weak away scoring.
Defensive solidity
Alaves concede 1.0 goals per away match across 3 away matches, clearly better than the league average conceded by an away side on the road. Celta Vigo concede 1.2 goals per home match across 4 home matches, level with the league average for a home side at home. Alaves hold a clear defensive edge, with the away side's record standing out against Celta Vigo's ordinary home concession rate.
Shots on target
Alaves average 4.38 shots on target per match, compared with Celta Vigo's 3.38. Alaves also see fewer of their shots blocked, at 2.13 per match against Celta Vigo's 2.63. This suggests Alaves work the opposing goalkeeper harder despite their lower possession share.
When goals arrive
Celta Vigo are most dangerous between minutes 31 and 45, scoring 38% of their goals in that window. Alaves score 33% of their goals between minutes 76 and 90, their most productive spell. Alaves are most vulnerable just after half-time, conceding 38% of their goals between minutes 46 and 60, against only 8% of their goals scored in that window.
Goal environment
Celta Vigo's matches have gone over 2.5 goals in 25% of cases this season, while Alaves's have done so in 50%. At home, Celta Vigo's over 2.5 rate rises to 50%, against 0% away. Alaves's away matches have gone over 2.5 goals in 33% of cases. The two sides' combined goals averages at this venue are 3.0 for Celta Vigo and 1.67 for Alaves.
What to expect
This looks like a tight match between two sides with contrasting profiles. Celta Vigo's home attack is solid but their home defence is ordinary, while Alaves bring a clear defensive edge on the road but struggle to score away. The market prices the home side as favourite, but the draw is a live possibility given both teams' recent form. Alaves's second-half vulnerability could be the key factor if Celta Vigo can apply sustained pressure.