🏏 Sat, 19 Sep 2026 18:30 CEST
Celta Vigo
vs
Racing Santander
3-4-3 vs 4-1-4-1
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- Celta come into matchday 7 sitting 18th in the relegation places, still without a win after six games (0-4-2) and on just four points. Their numbers are lopsided: only three goals scored but only six conceded, a side that rarely collapses but never lands a knockout blow. Racing are 12th on seven points from 2-1-3, so a home victory would swap the two in the table.
- Celta's last three outings all ended level: 1-1 away at Getafe on matchday 4, 1-1 at home to Malaga on matchday 5 and a goalless draw at Real Sociedad on matchday 6. Their two defeats, however, both came at home, 1-2 to Osasuna on the opening day and 0-2 to Athletic Club on matchday 3, which means they are still waiting for a first home win of the campaign.
- Racing's season divides neatly by venue. Both victories arrived at home in shoot-outs, 3-2 against Elche on matchday 3 and 2-1 over Alaves on matchday 5, while all three defeats have come on the road, the most recent a 2-7 loss at runaway leaders Barcelona, who sit top on 18 points with a +22 goal difference. Eleven scored and sixteen conceded in six matches is the profile of a chaotic, wide-open team.
- The shape battle pits Celta's 3-4-3 against Racing's 4-1-4-1. Celta push Javi Rueda, a natural right-back, and left-footed winger Hugo Alvarez into the wide midfield berths to stretch the pitch and attack the space behind. Racing leave Andre Almeida as the lone screen in front of the back four, so whichever side occupies the pockets around that single pivot first should control the tempo.
- The central battleground features Ilaix Moriba, the 23-year-old La Masia product who has since passed through RB Leipzig, Valencia and Getafe. He is a genuine box-to-box presence, combining physicality with close control and a fierce shot. Beside him, 23-year-old Miguel Roman, a Galician who came up via Pontevedra, supplies the running and the tidy distribution that keeps Celta ticking.
- Ferran Jutgla leads the Celta attack. The 27-year-old Barcelona academy graduate arrived from Club Brugge in 2025 and makes his living pressing from the front and running in behind defensive lines. He is flanked by 187cm Swedish forward Williot Swedberg, 22, signed from Hammarby, and by Hugo Gonzalez, a Valencia youth product comfortable on either wing after impressing at Cartagena.
- Racing's creative core is well stocked. Inigo Vicente, 28 and raised at Athletic Club, produced nine goals and 21 assists in their promotion season and shares set-piece duty. Left-footed Ivan Martin, 27, came through Villarreal's academy and was Girona's chance creator. Pablo Garcia, 26, has been at the Betis academy since the age of six and has represented Spain at U21 level.
- Celta field a back three of 22-year-old academy centre-back Yoel Lago (185cm), Uruguayan Sebastian Caceres, 27, and Alvaro Nunez, 26, who is naturally an attacking full-back after spells with Barcelona B and Elche. Racing answer with 186cm Pablo Ramon, 25, a Real Madrid cantera graduate with experience at Mirandes and Espanyol, partnered by 21-year-old Belocian in a young, mobile pairing.
- The benches carry plenty of intrigue. Racing can call on 35-year-old Sergio Canales, born in Santander and back at his boyhood club, who takes the penalties, free-kicks and corners. Celta counter with Borja Iglesias, 33, a returning former Celta striker who won the Copa del Rey with Betis and a Bundesliga title with Bayer Leverkusen, plus 35-year-old Marcos Alonso of Chelsea and Barcelona fame.
- The goalkeeping contrast is worth watching too. Celta start Ionut Radu, the 29-year-old Romania international schooled at Inter, a 188cm keeper whose career has taken in Genoa, Parma, Auxerre and Bournemouth. Racing counter with Julen Agirrezabala, 25, an Athletic Club youth product who helped win the 2023-24 Copa del Rey and whose left foot makes him a genuine outlet in the build-up.