Celta Vigo vs Rayo Vallecano - Predictions, Stats & Odds
La Liga Statistics, AI predictions, (Expected) Lineups and Insights for Gameweek 20
Goals
Game Review
Celta Vigo delivered a commanding performance in their La Liga clash against Rayo Vallecano, securing a 3-0 victory that was both comprehensive and deserved. The match, held on Sunday, 18 January 2026, saw Celta Vigo take control early and maintain their dominance throughout, a result that might not have been entirely surprising given their recent form and home advantage. The game opened with a balanced exchange, but it was Sergio Carreira (GAP +1.4%) who broke the deadlock in the 40th minute, giving Celta Vigo a crucial lead before halftime. This goal set the tone for the second half, where Celta continued to press their advantage. Bryan Zaragoza (GAP +0.8%) doubled the lead in the 54th minute, capitalizing on a defensive lapse by Rayo Vallecano. The match took a decisive turn when Nobel Mendy of Rayo Vallecano was shown a red card in the 66th minute, reducing the visitors to ten men and effectively ending their hopes of a comeback. Celta Vigo capitalized on their numerical superiority, with substitute Javi Rueda sealing the victory with a goal in the 79th minute. Tactically, Celta Vigo's manager made no changes to the starting lineup from their previous match, indicating confidence in his squad's current form. In contrast, Rayo Vallecano's head coach opted for a more conservative approach, but the strategy failed to contain Celta's attacking prowess. Key players for Celta included Marcos Alonso (GAP +2.9%), who was instrumental in maintaining defensive solidity, and Óscar Mingueza (GAP +2.5%), who contributed significantly to both defensive and offensive phases. For Rayo Vallecano, Alvaro Garcia (GAP -1.2%) struggled to make an impact, reflecting the team's overall difficulties in the match. This victory propels Celta Vigo further up the La Liga table, boosting their confidence as they continue to build momentum. For Rayo Vallecano, the defeat highlights the need for tactical adjustments and improved discipline, particularly in managing player conduct to avoid costly red cards. Overall, Celta Vigo's performance was a testament to their growing form and tactical coherence, setting a positive trajectory for the remainder of the season.
Lineups
Celta Vigo
| Pos | Player |
|---|---|
| GK | |
| DEF | |
| DEF | |
| DEF | |
| DEF | |
| DEF | |
| MID | |
| MID | |
| FWD | |
| FWD | |
| FWD |
Substitutes
| 62' | Williot Swedbergfor Hugo Álvarez |
| 63' | Miguel Románfor Hugo Sotelo |
| 71' | Javi Ruedafor Óscar Mingueza |
| 71' | Manu Fernándezfor Javi Rodríguez |
Rayo Vallecano
| Pos | Player |
|---|---|
| GK | |
| DEF | |
| DEF | |
| DEF | |
| DEF | |
| MID | |
| MID | |
| FWD | |
| FWD | |
| FWD | |
| FWD |
Substitutes
| 61' | Randy Ntekafor Gerard Gumbau |
| 61' | Alemãofor Alfonso Espino |
| 68' | Jozhua Vertrouwdfor Carlos Martín |
| 78' | Oscar Trejofor Jorge de Frutos |
| 79' | Fran Pérezfor Isi Palazón |
League Table after the game
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Celta Vigo | 20 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 28 | 20 | +8 | 32 | W D W W W |
| 13 | Rayo Vallecano | 20 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 16 | 25 | -9 | 22 | D L D W L |
Last Games
Head-to-Head
La Liga
Gameweek 20
What is GAP?
What is Plus Minus Goals (G±)?
Plus Minus Goals (G±) is the average goal difference per game while the player was on the pitch. A value above 0 indicates that the team rather wins, a value below 0 means his team concedes more goals than they score when the player is on the pitch. As an example, if the player's team is winning 3:1 the goal difference is +2, if the player's team is loosing 0:1, the goal difference is -1. It is a pure metric which is barely adjusted for circumstances to purely show the goal difference.
What is GAP?
GAP (Game Advantage Percentage) shows the percentage gap between a player and the average league player. It answers the question: How much does a player improve or worsen a team's performance? It is based on high level game data with a focus on the impact on the goal difference (G±) from the last 50 games of a player. Besides that, GAP goes further and considers game context by involving data from the player and all other players who are at the same time on the pitch, no matter if teammates or opponents. Football GAP - the individual metric for team players.