Celta vs Rayo Vallecano prediction, H2H and probable lineups – May 18, 2025
One of the fixtures of La Liga’s 37th round will take place this Sunday at Balaídos, where local side Celta hosts Rayo Vallecano. Here’s a bet on the outcome of this clash with an attractive odds offer.
Match preview
Celta are just one step away from qualifying for European competition—a victory in the upcoming round guarantees them a ticket to next season’s Europa League. The Galicians have seriously strengthened their position, defeating Sevilla at home (3-2), and then securing a crucial three points in San Sebastián against Real Sociedad (1-0). Claudio Giráldez’s side have taken a no-compromise approach—there hasn’t been a single draw in their last seven La Liga matches: four wins and three defeats.
Here’s an interesting stat—Celta remain one of only three teams in the league yet to play out a goalless draw (alongside Real Madrid and Barcelona). Overall, their form inspires confidence: in the last 14 rounds, they’ve suffered just three losses, notching up eight wins and three draws. As the season draws to a close, the Galicians look fired up and motivated, demonstrating a balanced and pragmatic style of play.
Rayo Vallecano still have a shot at the European spots—they trail seventh-placed Celta by four points. However, if they lose in the upcoming round, the Madrid side risk losing even their theoretical chances of making the Conference League. Iñigo Pérez’s men head into this match in decent spirits—they are unbeaten in their last three league games, having defeated Getafe and Las Palmas (both 1-0), and played out a high-scoring draw with Betis (2-2).
It’s worth noting that Rayo have failed to win 10 of their last 13 La Liga outings, suffering six defeats and drawing four times. This psychological backdrop, along with the challenge of playing away, could work against them—especially given the significance of this match in the European race.
Probable lineups
- Celta: Vicente Guaita – Óscar Mingueza, Javi Rodríguez, Sergio Carreira, Carlos Domínguez, Mihailo Ristić – Fran Beltrán, Ilaix Moriba, Fernando González – Borja Iglesias, Alfonso González
- Rayo Vallecano: Augusto Batalla – Florian Lejeune, Andrei Rațiu, Iván Balliu, Pep Chavarría, Aridane Hernández – Pathé Ciss, Isi Palazón, Álvaro García, Pedro Díaz – Jorge de Frutos
Match facts and head-to-head
- In the first round, Rayo Vallecano beat their opponent 2-1
- The "Total Over 2.5" bet landed in two out of five matches
- The "Both teams to score" bet came through in one out of five games
Prediction
In the first round, Rayo Vallecano came out on top, beating Celta in Madrid 2-1. However, prior to that, the Galicians had dominated the head-to-head—seven consecutive matches unbeaten, including two wins and five draws. Given the hosts’ current form and motivation, it’s only logical to assume Celta will push for revenge and solidify their place in the European zone. Our pick: Celta to win at odds of 1.82.
