Reasons to be cheerful you say? Step right this way...
We’ll all be supporting Celta tonight as they welcome Real Madrid to Balaidos in a game that will have huge ramifications for the destination of the title. Can Celta give Barcelona a massive helping hand?
Celta have already beaten Madrid this season
The last time Madrid visited Balaidos they were sent packing from the Copa del Rey with a 2-2 draw that sealed a 4-3 aggregate win for Celta. Eduardo Berizzo’s men are also the only team to have beaten Real Madrid and Barcelona this season and will know they have the ability to get the win if, and it’s a big if, they are at their best.
Iago Aspas can hurt Madrid
Only Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Cristiano Ronaldo have scored more La Liga goals than Iago Aspas this season who has 18 from 23 starts for Celta. The striker scored in the win over Barcelona, and in the Copa del Rey victory at the Bernabeu and another goal or two on Wednesday would do very nicely indeed.
There’s a big of niggle between these two
This game should have been played in February but was delayed due to storm damage to the stadium, which created a fair bit of ill-feeling between the two sides. Madrid pushed for the game to be played but for once they didn’t get their own way and both clubs’ European commitments means it has been postponed until now. Should the ill-feeling translate to the pitch it can surely only help Celta, and even Barcelona, with Ronaldo, Isco and Lucas Vazquez all one yellow card away from missing the final game against Malaga.
The Barcelona connection
In Andreu Fontas, Sergi Gomez and Carles Planas, Celta have three players who all began their careers at Barcelona and will surely be giving their all to help out the Blaugrana. Meanwhile, Ruben Blanco, Fontas, Gustavo Cabral, Johnny, Sergio and Hugo Mallo all worked under Luis Enrique during his time at Balaidos and could just be in the mood to do their old boss a massive favour.
Madrid have a few key absentees
The strength of Madrid’s squad needs no introduction but will be stretched a little on Wednesday. Nacho is suspended after his yellow card against Sevilla, so we may at least not have any "quick-thinking" free kicks to worry about. Dani Carvajal, Pepe and James Rodriguez are also out which should mean a backline of Danilo, Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane and Marcelo. That’s the same four that featured against Sevilla and was fortunate to only concede one with Stevan Jovetic hitting the woodwork twice.
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