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Celta Vigo will look to continue their fine form on the road when they visit Europa-Park-Stadion for the first leg of their UEFA Europa League quarter-final tie with Freiburg on Thursday.
The visitors have won four of their last five away games across all competitions and are unbeaten in eight consecutive matches away from home.
Freiburg, on the other hand, have five wins in as many home games in this competition and will look to maintain that perfect record.
Read our Freiburg vs Celta Vigo prediction, preview and betting tips. You can also check out our Today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.
Contents
Freiburg vs Celta Vigo key stats
- Freiburg have won all their home games in the UEFA Europa League this season.
- Six of Celta Vigo's last seven matches produced goals at both ends.
- Celta Vigo drew first blood in four of their last five games.
Freiburg vs Celta Vigo preview: Can visitors hold their own?
| Freiburg | vs | Celta Vigo |
|---|---|---|
| 8th (Bundesliga) | Position | 6th (La Liga) |
| 37 | Points | 44 |
| 41 | Goals For | 44 |
| 47 | Goals Against | 37 |
| 5 | Clean Sheets | 8 |
| 7th | Home Rank | 17th |
| 12th | Away Rank | 3rd |
This season marks Freiburg's first-ever appearance in a European quarter-final, representing the pinnacle of their continental history.
The Bundesliga side have had the joint-best defence in this competition, conceding only six goals in 10 UEFA Europa League matches this season.
Freiburg are without the recently injured forward Lucas Holer (hamstring), midfielders Daniel Koffi-Kyereh (knee) and Patrick Osterhage (knee), as well as defenders Jordy Makengo (muscle) and Max Rosenfelder (hamstring) for this first leg due to the aforementioned injuries.
Apart from the fresh injury problem involving Holer, coach Julian Schuster is unlikely to make significant changes to the side that almost held Bayern Munich last Saturday. That said, Igor Matanovic is expected to lead the attack for the hosts at the expense of his injured teammate.
Jan-Niklas Beste, Yuito Suzuki, and the team's top scorer in the competition this season, Vincenzo Grifo, should all have confirmed spots in the starting XI on Thursday.
On the other hand, this is Celta’s fifth European quarter-final, but their first since the 2016/17 season, when they famously reached the semi-finals before being narrowly eliminated by Manchester United.
Interestingly, the visitors have been the joint-best attacking side in this competition, scoring 21 goals in 10 UEFA Europa League fixtures this campaign.
On the injury front for Celta Vigo, the morale-boosting win at the Mestalla on Sunday came at a cost, as forward Hugo Alvarez picked up an ankle injury, which rules the 22-year-old out of this trip to Germany.
Javi Rueda is suspended for accumulated yellow cards, while Carl Starfelt will also not participate in this game for the visitors due to lower back pain. The Swedish centre-back has been experiencing increased discomfort in that area of his body since helping Sweden clinch a World Cup spot over Poland in last month's play-offs.
Williot Swedberg, who has scored four times for the Spanish side in this season's competition, will definitely be one of the notable names in Celta's attacking third.
Freiburg vs Celta Vigo form guide & betting tips
| Freiburg | vs | Celta Vigo |
|---|---|---|
| L-L-W-W-L | Form | D-D-W-L-W |
| 9 | Goals For | 10 |
| 7 | Goals Against | 8 |
| W-W-L-L-W | Europa League form | D-W-W-D-W |
Whispers Predicts: Freiburg 1-1 Celta Vigo
At 2.39, Freiburg are considered favourites by the bookies, and considering their perfect home record in the UEFA Champions League this season, we can see why.
However, it's important to note that Celta Vigo have been nothing short of impressive on the road, and considering the La Liga side are unbeaten in eight consecutive away games, we believe they will hold their own.
Both teams found the net in six of Celta Vigo's last seven matches, and BTTS - Yes can be backed at 1.84.
Furthermore, we also fancy draw & BTTS - Yes at 4.30.
> BTTS - Yes at 1.84 | Likelihood: Probable
> Under 2.5 goals at 1.78 | Likelihood: Probable
> Match result - Draw at 3.37 | Likelihood: Possible
> Draw & BTTS - Yes at 4.30 | Likelihood: Possible
> Correct score: 1-1 at 5.90 | Likelihood: Outsider