Match Information
Match Overview
Celta Vigo host Malaga in Regular Season - 5, a fixture that carries early relegation-battle significance with both sides occupying the bottom third of the table — Celta in 16th and Malaga in 18th. With the season still taking shape, this match offers both managers a chance to build momentum before the table becomes harder to climb.
The relegation-zone context is the defining storyline here. Celta Vigo, under Claudio Giraldez, sit just above the drop positions, while Juan Funes' Malaga occupy 18th place, making this a direct clash between two teams needing points to distance themselves from the bottom of the standings. Neither side has found consistent winning form through the opening rounds, and a result here would carry outsized psychological value for whichever team secures it, given the early-season table is still fluid.
Recent form suggests both teams are still searching for their attacking rhythm. Celta Vigo have drawn three of their last five La Liga matches, including consecutive 1-1 and 0-0 results against Getafe and Real Sociedad, but have also suffered home defeats to Athletic Club and Osasuna, raising questions about their form at home. Malaga, meanwhile, have not recorded a league win in their last four competitive matches, with three draws and a heavy 4-0 defeat to Real Madrid, though their goalless draw with Levante on September 6 suggests some defensive stability returning.
No injuries have been reported for either squad, meaning both Giraldez and Funes should have their preferred personnel available. This is a notable factor for Celta Vigo in particular, as Iago Aspas and the rest of the front line that started against Getafe should retain continuity heading into this match.
With both sides winless in their last several outings and separated by just two places in the standings, this match represents an important opportunity for either team to arrest their early-season struggles.
Predicted Lineups
Celta Vigo
I. Radu; Y. Lago, C. Starfelt, M. Alonso; J. El Abdellaoui, I. Moriba, M. Roman, J. Galan; I. Aspas, P. Duran, H. Gonzalez
Malaga
A. Herrero; Rafita, A. Recio, E. Galilea, J. Salinas; C. Dotor, P. Martinez, D. Lorenzo; D. Larrubia, Chupe, J. Cruz
Team Form Analysis
Celta Vigo
League Position: 16Celta Vigo Form Analysis
Celta Vigo's recent form paints a picture of a team struggling for consistency, particularly at home. Across their last five La Liga matches, Giraldez's side have recorded zero wins, three draws, and two defeats, with both losses coming at home against Athletic Club (0-2 on August 30) and Osasuna (1-2 on August 27). Their attacking output has been modest, scoring just twice in five matches, while their away form has shown more defensive resilience, with back-to-back clean-sheet draws against Valencia and Real Sociedad, plus a 1-1 result at Getafe. The contrast between their shaky home displays and steadier away performances is notable heading into this fixture. With Iago Aspas leading the forward line alongside Pablo Duran and Hugo Gonzalez, Celta have the attacking pieces to trouble opponents, but translating possession into home wins remains their central challenge. Their 16th-place position reflects this inconsistency, and turning draws into victories will be essential to moving clear of the relegation zone.
Malaga
League Position: 18Malaga Form Analysis
Malaga's form under Juan Funes has been defined by defensive solidity but a lack of attacking cutting edge. Across their last four competitive matches, they have failed to win, collecting three draws and suffering a heavy 4-0 defeat away to Real Madrid on August 30. Two of those draws were goalless or low-scoring — a 0-0 with Levante on September 6 and a 1-1 with Deportivo La Coruna on August 24 — highlighting a team that is difficult to break down but also struggling to find the net themselves. Their only other result, a 2-0 loss to Atletico Madrid on August 19, came against another of the division's stronger sides. Malaga's attacking players, including David Larrubia, Chupe, and Juan Cruz, have not yet combined for a telling run of form. Sitting in 18th position, Malaga's underlying numbers suggest a team capable of grinding out results against comparable opposition, but their inability to convert draws into wins has left them in the bottom two.
Head-to-Head
Celta Vigo
Malaga
Recent Meetings
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-03-18 | Celta Vigo | 0 - 0 | Malaga |
| 2017-10-29 | Malaga | 2 - 1 | Celta Vigo |
| 2017-05-07 | Malaga | 3 - 0 | Celta Vigo |
| 2017-01-08 | Celta Vigo | 3 - 1 | Malaga |
| 2016-05-08 | Celta Vigo | 1 - 0 | Malaga |
| 2016-01-02 | Malaga | 2 - 0 | Celta Vigo |
| 2015-04-29 | Celta Vigo | 1 - 0 | Malaga |
| 2014-12-13 | Malaga | 1 - 0 | Celta Vigo |
| 2014-03-21 | Celta Vigo | 0 - 2 | Malaga |
| 2013-10-26 | Malaga | 0 - 5 | Celta Vigo |
Memorable Matches
The history between these two clubs includes some striking results. On October 26, 2013, Malaga suffered a heavy 0-5 defeat at home to Celta Vigo, one of the most emphatic results in this fixture's history. The two sides have also shared tighter, more cagey affairs, such as the 0-0 draw at Balaidos on March 18, 2018, their most recent meeting on record. Earlier encounters swung both ways, including a 3-1 Celta win on January 8, 2017, and a 3-0 Malaga victory on May 7, 2017, showing how this fixture has produced contrasting margins over the years rather than settling into a predictable pattern.
Venue Factor
With the match taking place at Celta Vigo's home venue, the atmosphere generated by the home crowd is typically a significant factor in La Liga fixtures involving Celta. However, their recent home record offers a complicated picture, having lost their last two matches at home against Athletic Club and Osasuna without scoring more than one goal. Malaga, as the traveling side, have shown resilience away from home this season, holding Atletico Madrid to a respectable scoreline margin and generally avoiding heavy defeats outside their 4-0 loss to Real Madrid. For a Celta side seeking to reverse its recent home struggles, home support will be important, while Malaga will look to replicate the defensive discipline that has characterized their away performances this season.
Injury Concerns
Celta Vigo
Malaga
