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Celta Vigo vs Rayo Vallecano Preview: Odds, Tips, and Prediction

Date: 18 May 2025 Venue: Estadio de Balaidos Kick-off: 17:00 UTC Celta Vigo welcome Rayo Vallecano to the Estadio de Balaidos on Sunday, 18 May 2025. Both teams are fighting for a European spot and it is expected to be an end-to-end clash. With so much riding on the tie, this match offers plenty of wagering opportunities for LaLiga betting fans. As the LaLiga season nears its conclusion, both these sides have European ambitions. The reverse fixture saw Rayo win 2-1 at home, promising another tight and intense battle, especially with the business end of the season upon us.

Thierry Henry
Nigel Naicker

Last updated: 2025-05-15

Chad Nagel

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Adrián Embarba of Rayo Vallecano battle for the ball with Fran Beltran of RC Celta de Vigo

Adrián Embarba battle for the ball with Fran Beltran//Getty Images

Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability

Here’s a breakdown of the pre-match betting odds for Celta Vigo vs Rayo Vallecano: 

  1. Home: 5/6 (1.83) – 46.5% 

  2. Draw: 12/5 (3.40) – 29.4% 

  3. Away: 16/5 (4.20) – 24.1% 

    Odds courtesy of Betway, subject to change.

Head-to-Head Record

Check out the head-to-head record for Celta Vigo vs Rayo Vallecano: 

  1. 10/01/25 – Rayo Vallecano 2-1 Celta Vigo 

  2. 31/03/24 – Celta Vigo 0-0 Rayo Vallecano 

  3. 11/12/23 – Rayo Vallecano 0-0 Celta Vigo 

  4. 11/03/23 – Celta Vigo 3-0 Rayo Vallecano 

  5. 10/11/22 – Rayo Vallecano 0-0 Celta Vigo 

Celta Vigo Current Form – LWLWW

Celta Vigo have been a bit inconsistent over their previous five games, with three wins and two losses in that period. Sitting seventh with 52 points, they’ve scored 56 goals but conceded 54, showing both attacking promise and defensive fragility. 

Oscar Mingueza of RC Celta de Vigo.jpg

Oscar Mingueza of RC Celta de Vigo//Getty Images

Key Players to Watch

  • Alfonso Gonzalez: The forward has been a key contributor to this Celta side. The 26-year-old has seven goals and assists to his name in 24 matches in LaLiga.
  • Iago Aspas: The veteran forward has been one of Celta’s best performers. Aspas has registered 13 goal contributions in 28 LaLiga games. 
  • Vicente Guaita: The experienced goalkeeper has been in great form for Celta and has featured in all but four LaLiga games for his side, proving his reliability. 

Celta Vigo Team News

Celta Vigo are without Carl Starfelt and Jailson, while Marcos Alonso was sent off against Sevilla and will be suspended for the visit of Rayo Vallecano. The home side will need their squad to give their all in the run-in of the final few matches if they are to get a place in the Champions League for next season. 

Rayo Vallecano Current Form – LDLWW

Rayo Vallecano has struggled for consistency, with two wins, two losses, and one draw in their last five games. Ranked 8th with 47 points, they’ve scored 37 goals but conceded 42, with a -5 goal difference. 

GettyImages-2194Andrei Rațiu of Rayo Vallecano106584.jpg

Andrei Rațiu of Rayo Vallecano//Getty Images

Key Players to Watch

  • Jorge de Frutos: The right winger has been a bright spark, scoring four goals and adding three assists. His directness troubles defences as he is a nightmare to deal with. 
  • Alvaro Garcia: The attacking midfielder has been excellent for Rayo Vallecano this season. The 32-year-old has registered nine goal contributions in 33 LaLiga matches. 
  • Augusto Batalla: The goalkeeper has been solid between the sticks for his side and he has featured in all but six games for Rayo this season. 

Rayo Vallecano Team News

Rayo Vallecano will be without Randy Nteka and Abdul Mumin due to knee injuries, while Jonothan Montiel has a quad issue. Raul de Tomas is set to make a return to the squad after a minor knock. Meanwhile, Isi Palazon will miss the game through suspension. 

Predicted Line-Ups

  1. Celta Vigo (4-4-2): Guaita, Mingueza, Lago, Dominguez, J. Rodriguez, Duran, Moriba, Beltran, Swedberg, Iglesias, Aspas 

  2. Rayo Vallecano (4-2-3-1): Batalla, Ratiu, Lejeune, Hernandez, Chavarria, Ciss, Lopez, De Frutos, Diaz, Garcia, Embarba

Suggested Bets

Explore our suggested football betting tips below before you bet on football.

  1. Both Teams to Score (No): Three of the last five encounters between these two sides have ended goalless. (4/5 with Betway) 

  2. Under 2.5 Goals: As mentioned earlier, these games are usually very tight and cagey, expect a low-scoring affair. (11/10 with Betway) 

Value Bets

Our value bets will give you the best LaLiga betting insights with the most reliable bookmakers for betting. 

  1. Celta Vigo to Win: Celta’s home form and Rayo’s inconsistent away record make the hosts favourites. (5/6 with Betway) 

  2. Anytime Goal Scorer – Borja Iglesias: Iglesias’ 10 goals and recent form make him a likely scorer in this tie. (Forecast odds: 3/1) 

Prediction: Celta Vigo to Win 

It is set to be a tight encounter on Sunday but Celta Vigo’s strong home record and attacking firepower should give them the edge over a Rayo Vallecano side that has struggled on the road. Expect a competitive match, but the home side to come out on top in a low-scoring affair – a perfect chance to take advantage of a sportsbook welcome bonus when backing Celta. 

Thierry Henry
Nigel NaickerBetting Writer

With a decade of sports writing expertise, Nigel Naicker has crafted compelling content across football leagues like the Premier League and UEFA Champions League, as well as cricket and UFC. A passionate storyteller since 2014, Nigel joins the SportsBoom team, ready to deliver insightful narratives across various sports disciplines.

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