A win for Celta Vigo against Levante in the third-to-last matchday of LaLiga would bring the Galician side very close to securing European qualification for next season. Claudio Giráldez’s men head into Tuesday’s clash at Balaídos with high morale after their victory at the Metropolitano on Saturday. True to his style, the local manager is expected to make several changes to the lineup that defeated Atlético Madrid.
Five changes are anticipated in the Celta starting eleven, one of them precautionary. Ilaix Moriba is carrying some discomfort, so Hugo Sotelo is set to partner Fer López in midfield. Javi Rueda is also not at 100% fitness—he missed the Atlético game due to suspension and seemed likely to start against Levante, but Giráldez will not take risks with the powerful wing-back. Instead, the flanks will be occupied by Óscar Mingueza and one of the most-used players in the squad, local full-back Sergio Carreira, who was rested from the start against the Colchoneros.
The three attackers who will start this match all came off the bench on Saturday. Captain Iago Aspas, Ferran Jutglà, and Hugo Álvarez will form the frontline in Celta’s 3-4-3 formation. This rotation will send Williot Swedberg, Pablo Durán, and in-form Borja Iglesias—who has scored in the last two league games—to the bench.
The Celta squad for this fixture includes all 26 available players, so Giráldez will have to omit two outfield players in addition to third-choice goalkeeper Marc Vidal. Still absent from the list are injured players Carl Starfelt, Miguel Román, and Matías Vecino. The Uruguayan midfielder has entered the final phase of his recovery and is expected to return next Sunday at San Mamés.
Thus, the predicted Celta lineup is: Radu; Javi Rodríguez, Yoel Lago, Marcos Alonso; Mingueza, Sotelo, Fer López, Carreira; Aspas, Jutglà, and Hugo Álvarez.