After the massive rotation in the Copa del Rey, the usual starters in the League return to Rafa Benítez’s eleven. Celta will present a lineup very similar to the one that lost 0-1 the previous day against Real Sociedad against Girona. Only one variation is expected, the entry of the Swedish central defender Carl Starfelt to the detriment of the youth squad Carlos Domínguez.
In the call of 23 footballers there are two new features. The substitute goalkeeper Iván Villar returns, after serving two suspension matches, and the interior Franco Cervi. The Argentine has recovered from the muscle setback he suffered in the first game of 2024. For another week, the Ivorian Jonathan Bamba, who continues in the Africa Cup, and the Ghanaian Joseph Aidoo, who is injured for a long time, are not available. The midfielder of the reserve team Hugo Álvarez, who started last Wednesday in the Cup, goes down this weekend to play in the Primera RFEF derby with Celta Fortuna and the newcomer Javier Manquillo has not entered the list either.
Double pivot
Starfelt’s first start in the League since being injured before Christmas means that Benítez returns to his usual centre-back tandem. The Celtic coach is betting on two other consolidated duos in the backbone of his 4-4-2. The double pivot formed by Renato Tapia and Carlos Dotor has been chosen to start in four of the last five days. The Peruvian serves as the undisputed leader of the team and the Madrid native has surpassed Fran Beltrán and Hugo Sotelo in the order of his coach’s preferences.
Nor is it expected that there will be a surprise up front. Jorgen Strand Larsen and Iago Aspas were substitutes in the Cup, so they have every chance to act as a leading pair. Tasos Douvikas, the top scorer of the Olympic team in the KO tournament, will wait for his opportunity on the bench.
Possible alignment of Celta
Thus, the eleven presented by Benítez will be composed of: Guaita; Mingueza, Starfelt, Unai Núñez, Manu Sánchez; Miguel Rodríguez, Tapia, Dotor, De La Torre; Aspas and Larsen.