Celta Vigo have had a forgettable La Liga campaign. Sat firmly in the zone of mid-table mediocrity after a disastrous start to the season, it was not until the midway stage that Eduardo Berizzo’s men managed to stabilise themselves halfway up the standings.
Having a relatively shallow squad has been a major factor behind this, particularly as the Europa League has been La Celeste’s main focus ever since they managed to clamber out of Group G behind Ajax. The Amsterdam-based club and Shakhtar Donetsk are the only two teams to have defeated Celta in this season’s edition of the competition.
Difficult trips to face the likes of Shakhtar and Krasnodar have been navigated smartly by the Spanish outfit, with long journeys not affecting their ability to put in a cohesive collective performance. There are, of course, some standout players within Berizzo’s ranks, but their biggest strength is that this group of players know each other, their own limits and the system within which they function.
Celta’s current league form has been incredibly deceiving: the Galician club come into Thursday’s first-leg clash off the back of five La Liga defeats in their last six, but the Europa League became the be all and end all for everyone at the club long before the semi-final draw was made.
Entirely rotated teams, save for the presence of goalkeeper Sergio Alvarez, have been common of late. With Celta so very close to making history, no risks are to be taken. The club are already in their first ever European semi-final, and they will now want to kick on and reach their inaugural final.
Who is Eduardo Berizzo?
Only against Barcelona this season has Celta’s Argentine coach been unable to get the best out of his players. His transition from Celta player to manager has been excellent, and the team he has constructed are close to etching their names into the history books.
As the summer beckons, Berizzo’s future is uncertain; his contract runs out in the coming months, and the likes of Barcelona and Sevilla have been touted to be his possible destinations – which is testament to the impressive job he has done with modest resources at Balaidos.
There is always balance to his selections: La Celeste never overextend or leave themselves without the options required to transition quickly on the counter-attack. Pace and creativity in wide areas is often the preferred offensive tool, while everyone in the squad possesses the technical ability and composure to play out from the back.
Who are their key players?
Hugo Mallo, who wears the captain’s armband, fired home an important opening goal in Celta’s 2-0 win against Krasnodar in the last 16, and is one of this team’s talismanic presences.
The No.2 has good technical ability, and is comfortable when it comes to both providing attacking width and offering defensive solidity. Given that Iago Aspas has the tendency to drift infield to cause problems from that wing, Hugo Mallo often finds himself hugging the touchline.
The aforementioned Aspas will sit on the right-hand side of the attack and is Celta’s main source of inspiration. After forgettable spells at both Liverpool and Sevilla, it would be easy to scoff at the idea of him playing a key role – but that is the reality. Both the Spain international and Hugo Mallo were at the club when they were battling to survive in the lower divisions, which makes the prospect of glory in 2017 even more alluring.
Aspas has 17 league goals to his name this season already, as well as five in Europe, and has momentary flashes within games where he is simply unplayable. His dribbling ability will be something to watch out for, while his movement is also bound to cause problems for a makeshift Manchester United defence.
On a sentimental level, John Guidetti, who has scored four goals in Europe this term, is another player worth watching on Thursday. After he failed to make a name for himself at Manchester City, Celta have benefitted from picking up the Swedish striker following a promising spell at Feyenoord. The 2016/2017 Europa League final is to be held in Stockholm, the city of Guidetti’s birth, and he will be desperate to be on that pitch and fighting for the chance to win Celta their first European trophy.
Can Celta win?
On an individual level, Celta have an abundance of players who will be willing to put everything on the line to book their place in the Europa League final. As a collective, they have little to lose and everything to gain.
La Liga has been a relative shambles, but they have been excellent on Thursday evenings. Berizzo is an intelligent and reactive coach, and his squad has a fine blend of technical ability, star quality and selfless individuals. Celta are a tough nut to crack.
Given that Manchester United have drawn several home matches in the Premier League in recent months, Berizzo’s men may be quietly confident of getting a result at Old Trafford. Balaidos, meanwhile, has seen just two defeats in La Celeste’s 21 European matches since the turn of the millennium. Write Celta Vigo off at your peril.
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