Preview: Celta Vigo vs. Real Betis - prediction, team news, lineups

Real Betis will continue their push to break into the top four of the La Liga table on Sunday, when they travel to take on Celta Vigo.

Manuel Pellegrini's side returned to winning ways in their last league game to remain within two points of fourth-placed Atletico Madrid, but they were dumped out of the Europa League on Thursday and will be keen to bounce back.

Match preview

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It has certainly been a season of two halves for Celta Vigo, who found themselves majorly threatened by relegation until December before shooting up the division in recent months.

Los Celestes won just three of their first 14 games of the La Liga campaign, but Eduardo Coudet's men have now posted six from their last 12 outings to climb into the top half, with a six-game span producing 13 points around the turn of the year being a particular highlight.

While they now come into the weekend having suffered two defeats in the last three games, they have both been in particularly tough outings, as they firstly fell to Atletico Madrid before bouncing back with a dramatic 4-3 win over Mallorca thanks to Iago Aspas's 97th-minute winner after he had previously got on the scoresheet alongside Thiago Galhardo and Denis Suarez.

Having most recently fallen to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Villarreal, Coudet's men will now hope to bounce back with a win to maintain their place in the top half, a position that seemed out of reach at the halfway mark of the season.

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They face another tough test, though, as Real Betis make the trip looking to break into the division's top four and earn Champions League qualification.

Consecutive defeats over Sevilla and Atletico Madrid seemed to give a major hit to, not only their top four hopes, but Real Betis's chances of a top-six finish, but they were able to bounce back with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Athletic Bilbao in their most recent league outing.

Borja Iglesias netted the only goal of the game in the first half, and Pellegrini's men defended their lead to earn all three points before they entered a battle to overturn a 2-1 deficit in the second leg of their Europa League round-of-16 tie with Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday.

Iglesias was again the hero, netting a 90th-minute goal to seal a 1-0 away win on the night and take the tie to extra time, only for Guido Rodriguez to turn the ball into his own net in the final minute of the half-hour period, seeing his side drop out as a result.

Now with their focus fully on the top flight, at least until April's Copa del Rey final, Los Verdiblancos will look to bounce back from Thursday's disappointment with a second straight league win to strengthen their position in the race for the top four with Atletico Madrid and Barcelona only two points ahead.

Team News

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Celta Vigo do not have any notable injuries to deal with, and, with Hugo Mallo set to return from a suspension, they come into Sunday's game at full strength.

Iago Aspas will continue to spearhead the attack, with the 34-year-old continuing to defy his age with 13 La Liga goals so far this term.

He should again be partnered by Thiago Galhardo with Denis Suarez supporting the front two.

Real Betis are without key forward Nabil Fekir, who has contributed 10 goals and eight assists this season, as the Frenchman is suspended after being shown a red card in their recent league triumph over Athletic Bilbao.

Borja Iglesias will take on more attacking responsibility in his absence, having found the net in consecutive games despite only featuring off the bench against Eintracht Frankfurt.

Martin Montoya, Victor Camarasa, Cristian Tello and Andres Guardado are ruled out through injuries, although right-back Hector Bellerin was fit to make the squad on Thursday and could come into the starting XI at the weekend.

Celta Vigo possible starting lineup:
Dituro; Mallo, Aidoo, Araujo, Galan; Beltran; Mendez, Suarez, Nolito; Aspas, Galhardo

Real Betis possible starting lineup:
Silva; Bellerin, Bartra, Pezzella, Miranda; Rodriguez, Carvalho; Canales, Rodri, Juanmi; Iglesias

We say: Celta Vigo 1-1 Real Betis

Real Betis have certainly shown themselves to be the stronger side over the course of the season, but Celta Vigo have vastly improved recently, and we predict a tight affair as a result.

Ultimately, we see Los Celestes having enough to force a share of the spoils against a Veriblancos side hit by injuries and with a dent in their confidence after Thursday's Europa League exit.

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