Villarreal vs Celta: prediction, H2H and probable lineups — 26.04.2026
One of the standout matches of this round in the Spanish championship will take place on Sunday at the “La Cerámica” stadium in Villarreal, where the local side will host Celta. The hosts are confidently holding their ground in the Champions League zone, while the visitors from Vigo are fighting to regain momentum in the European race after a painful slump. Here’s my take on the outcome of this intriguing clash.
Match preview
Villarreal faltered in the Champions League group stage, picking up just one point from eight matches, but in La Liga Marcelino’s team looks like a completely different beast. The “Yellow Submarine” sits third, has a comfortable cushion over their rivals, and is already paving the way for another shot at Europe’s top competition.
In the last two rounds, Villarreal collected four points: first defeating Athletic Bilbao away, then drawing 1-1 with an improved Real Oviedo. At home, they are particularly solid — 37 points from 15 matches and only 13 goals conceded, making it rare for opponents to dictate terms at La Cerámica.
Celta, meanwhile, have hit their worst patch at the most inopportune moment of the season. Claudio Giráldez’s side crashed out of the Europa League after a quarterfinal loss to Freiburg, lost four straight matches across all competitions, and have been beaten in three of their last four La Liga outings.
Yet, the visitors still have arguments in their favor. Against Barcelona, Celta looked much better in terms of play and lost to the leaders by just 0-1, and their away record remains one of the league’s best: 27 points from 16 away games — bettered only by Real and Barcelona.
Probable lineups
- Villarreal: Junior, Freeman, Navarro, Veiga, Pedraza, Pepe, Gueye, Comesaña, Moleiro, Gerard Moreno, Mikautadze.
- Celta: Radu, Alonso, Aidoo, Rodriguez, Nuñez, Sotelo, Vecino, Mingueza, Lopez, Iglesias, Svedberg.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Villarreal have taken 37 points from 15 home La Liga matches and have conceded just 13 goals at their ground.
- Celta have lost their last four matches in all competitions and five of their last six overall.
- Villarreal have won just one of their last four league meetings with Celta, with the first-round encounter ending 1-1.
Prediction
Celta remain a dangerous away side and will likely try to play boldly, especially with Borja Iglesias back in the starting attack. However, the visitors’ current mood is concerning: elimination from the Europa League, a string of defeats, and a loss of stability make every match a test of resilience. Villarreal, by contrast, play with much more composure and pragmatism at home than away, and the return of Santi Comesaña should provide added control in midfield. While a walkover is unlikely, the attacking quality of Gerard Moreno and Mikautadze, combined with the “La Cerámica” factor, tip the scales in Marcelino’s favor.
