Valencia vs Celta Vigo — Tips & Analysis

Celta Vigo +0.25: Valencia open the season with their attack pulled apart. Six players are missing, and Diego Lopez and Sergi Canos are gone for the rest of the year with knee ligament injuries. Copete is out until October. Carlos Corberan has to patch together a new front line in his first competitive game for 91 days. That is a lot to ask on opening night. Valencia have won 7, tied 2 and lost 5 of their last 14 games, so they are no machine even at full strength. Celta travel light on goals. They scored just over a goal a game on the road last season, winning 3, tying 2 and losing 3 of eight away trips. What they do have is a hold over this game. Celta won the last two meetings, 3-2 at Mestalla in April and 4-1 in January. They have scored in each of the last five games between these clubs. Celta have had the same 91 days off, so nobody arrives game ready. A 1-1 is the read, and Celta avoiding defeat is all this pick needs. Be warned though. Valencia ended last season playing well, beating Barcelona 3-1 at home and winning 4-3 at Real Sociedad, and they won 4 of their 7 home games. This one is close, but we want Celta.