Celta de Vigo Hosts Alaves in Key La Liga Match
Celta de Vigo hosts Deportivo Alaves in a crucial La Liga match on Sunday at Estadio de Balaidos, with the sixth-placed Sky Blues aiming to build on their recent European success while the visitors fight to climb out of the relegation scrap.
The game kicks off at 11:15 a.m. ET, pitting a confident Celta side against an Alaves team desperate for points. Celta enters the clash with 41 points from 28 matches, including 10 wins, 11 draws and seven losses, sitting three points clear of seventh-placed Real Sociedad. Alaves, with 28 points from seven wins, seven draws and 14 losses, occupies 17th place, just two points above the drop zone and level with 18th-placed Elche.
Celta's momentum stems from a strong midweek performance in the UEFA Europa League. On Thursday, the team secured a 2-0 victory over Olympique Lyonnais in France, advancing 3-1 on aggregate to reach the quarterfinals for the first time. Javi Rueda scored in the 61st minute after Lyon defender Moussa Niakate was sent off in the 19th minute, reducing the hosts to 10 men. Ferran Jutgla added a stoppage-time goal, with Nicolas Tagliafico receiving a second yellow card late for Lyon, leaving them with nine players. Manager...