Unbeaten Union face a Celta side that cannot find the target
Pre-match update (20:30 CET): The starting XIs are now confirmed. Florucz is not in Union’s side, Zorgane comes in and Sylla starts. Celta have rotated heavily: Iago Aspas, Ferran Jutglà, Ilaix Moriba and Hugo González are all out of the starting XI, with Swedberg, Pablo Durán and Hugo Álvarez in attack. That rotation does not hurt the bet, but losing Union’s top scorer is why the stake stays at 1/10 rather than going back to 3/10.
Pre-match update (20:20 CET): Originally I backed Union Saint-Gilloise Draw No Bet at 2.18 for 3/10. The official team sheets were not out yet, but both line-ups reported this evening, by El Desmarque in Spain and La DH in Belgium, left Raul Florucz out of Union’s XI, with Kevin Rodríguez leading the line. Florucz is their top scorer in the league, so I have cut the stake to 1/10. The bet stays Union Saint-Gilloise Draw No Bet at 2.18 with MyStake.
Pre-match update (20:05 CET): Since this preview went live, Hugo González has made Celta’s squad after an adductor problem but is expected to start on the bench. Union have Ilan Hurtevent back, while Ondřej Kričfaluši did not travel and Rob Schoofs will not be in the matchday squad. The odds quoted are from when this preview was published on 4 November; prices may have moved since.
Claudio Giráldez did not hide after Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at Rayo Vallecano. „We defended badly,“ he said, and the numbers at the other end were just as bad: 11 shots, none on target. Celta have gone two games without a goal, they are without Borja Iglesias, and they average only three shots on target per league game. Union Saint-Gilloise are second in Belgium, one point behind Club Brugge, unbeaten in the league and perfect away from home. In Europe they have taken seven points from nine and conceded once.
“No vale el nivel que hemos dado hoy. El primer responsable soy yo.” (“The level we showed today is not good enough. I am the first one responsible.”) – Claudio Giráldez after the defeat at Rayo, quoted by Unión Rayo
Predicted lineups: Celta vs Union SG
Celta are without Borja Iglesias, Carl Starfelt, Álvaro Núñez, Miguel Román and Jones El-Abdellaoui. Giráldez has made sweeping changes for this one: Aspas, Jutglà, Moriba, Cáceres, Galán and Hugo González, who is in the squad after an adductor problem, all miss out on the confirmed starting XI. Union are without Mac Allister and Biondic, Kričfaluši did not travel and Schoofs will not be in the matchday squad, while Hurtevent is back in contention. David Hubert has named the same starting XI in his last three games, and Dylan Aquino’s red card at Beveren on Saturday only counts domestically. He has changed it tonight, though: Adem Zorgane comes in and Raul Florucz is not in the confirmed starting XI. Both line-ups below are the confirmed XIs.
Celta Vigo Team News & Preview
Celta’s problem is in attack. They have 10.6 expected goals in 11 LaLiga games, under one per game, and they manage only 3.0 shots on target per game. Away from home in the league they have not won at all.
They have been better at Balaídos, with two league wins and 9 goals in six games, and they did win 2-1 at Celtic in this competition. But they lost 1-0 at Omonia and 2-1 at home to Juventus, and without Iglesias the attack depends on Ferran Jutglà, who has two league goals.
What works for or against Celta
- Won 2-1 at Celtic in the Europa League.
- No shot on target in a 3-0 defeat at Rayo on Saturday.
- Only 10.6 expected goals in 11 league games.
- Borja Iglesias, Starfelt and Miguel Román are all out.
Union Saint-Gilloise Team News & Preview
Union are second in the Belgian Pro League with eight wins and two draws from ten games, and their away record is perfect: five wins, 15 goals scored and four conceded. They average 7.4 shots on target per league game and have created almost twice as much as they have allowed. Massiré Sylla has been their highest-rated player and Raul Florucz has five league goals.
In Europe they won 3-0 in Plzeň, drew 1-1 with Real Sociedad and beat Hapoel Be’er Sheva 4-0. Hubert admitted the first half at Beveren on Saturday was poor, but Union still won 2-1 to stay one point behind Club Brugge.
What works for or against Union SG
- Five wins from five away league games, with 15 goals scored.
- Only one goal conceded in three Europa League games.
- Unbeaten in ten league games this season.
- Mac Allister, Biondic, Kričfaluši and Schoofs are all missing.
Celta vs Union SG Odds
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Celta Vigo vs. Union SG Stats Comparison
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Celta Vigo vs. Union SG Form Guide
Celta Vigo Form, Stats & Data
Celta’s defence has held up reasonably, but scoring fewer than a goal per game with under one expected goal per game is a real problem, and their best-rated player is now injured.
Union SG Form, Stats & Data
Union create almost twice as much as they allow and convert well, which is why they have scored nearly three goals a game in the league.
Celta vs Union SG: Prediction & Betting Tip
Union are in far better form, create far more and have been outstanding away from home. Celta have not had a shot on target in their last game, are missing their top scorer and have not won away all season. Home advantage keeps Celta in it, but I make Union the more likely winners.
The strongest argument against the bet is Celta’s form at Balaídos, where they have scored nine goals in six league games and are a different side. Union also have absences of their own, and the step up to a LaLiga opponent away from home is a real test. That is why I want the draw covered: I am backing Union Saint-Gilloise Draw No Bet at 2.18 with MyStake, now for 1/10 rather than the original 3/10, because Florucz is not in the starting XI. Celta’s heavy rotation still makes me happy to keep the bet. I see it finishing 0-1.