La Liga: Celta vs. Betis

Posted on | May 23, 2007 | No Comments

If anyone needed proof that changing the manager near the end of the season very rarely ends in success, just have them look at Celta de Vigo. Ex coach Fernando Vasquez wasn’t able to mould a team together from what he had been given, so new man Hristo Stoichkov can’t really be blamed for the mess the club is in and for almost certain relegation. However, heaping the blame on the players for not giving enough to the team doesn’t help either.
Celta have now lost eight of their last nine games and are in free fall mode. Even a Sunday morning pub side would fancy their chances. Hard to imagine that only a couple of years ago they were facing Arsenal in the Champions league. Stoichkov is expected to make a few changes to the side that lost last week to Real Sociedad, but he doesn’t really have that many options to choose from. Historically, Celta have a definite advantage when they play Betis at their stadium. Of the last ten encounters, they have won seven and drawn just three. Of course, that was another time and another team.
Betis aren’t lighting any fireworks at the moment, either. Their city neighbours Sevilla are taking all the limelight at the moment and that is probably effecting their form, such is the rivalry in the city. Amazingly, Betis have drawn twelve out of their last eighteen matches, including a one a piece draw against Barcelona at the Camp Nou a couple of weeks ago. This really upset the bookies, especially as they equalised a couple of minutes from the end. Coach Luis Fernandez has recently agreed to a new contract to stay at the green and whites for another year, but without a heavy investment things are unlikely to change. On the team news front, Betis will be without Johan Vogel through suspension, and Nano, who is out with a sprained ankle. I doubt whether we’ll see many goals here or much football, come to think of it, but there will be lots of tension. I expect Betis to just nudge a win here, as I doubt if Celta can muster a win.
Prediction: Away win (0-1)

Related posts:

1. La Liga: Athletico de Madrid vs. Celta
2. La Liga: Racing de Santander vs. Betis
3. La Liga: Real Sociedad vs. Celta
4. La Liga: Zaragoza vs. Celta
5. La Liga: Celta vs. Levante

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