RCD Espanyol and Celta de Vigo have officially announced their starting lineups for the highly anticipated match taking place this Saturday at 14:00 hours at the RCD Stadium in Cornellà, as part of the 24th matchday of LaLiga EA Sports. The two teams are currently vying for the sixth position in the league standings, with just a single point separating Claudio Giráldez’s Celta from Manolo González’s Espanyol. The competitive edge has been amplified by prior controversies between the two coaches, stemming from their last encounter in the first half of the season.
RCD Espanyol’s starting eleven features Marko Dmitrovic in goal; El Hilali, Riedel, Cabrera, and Carlos Romero in defense; a midfield trio of Pickel, Pol Lozano, and Edu Expósito; and an attacking front comprising Ngongé, Roberto Fernández, and Pere Milla.
Manolo González, the head coach of RCD Espanyol, addressed fans, emphasizing the importance of support: “They must stand by the team. Solidarity has been vital for Espanyol’s survival in the top division. We have come from a few challenging weeks and we are our own harshest critics. However, the team has grown throughout the season hand in hand with the supporters.”
He acknowledged the strength of Celta, describing them as a tough opponent that has developed a strong identity, especially with the investment in young talent coming from their academy. His respect for their growth as a team was evident, highlighting their solid performance this season.
On the other side, Celta de Vigo’s starting lineup includes Andrei Radu; Javi Rodríguez, Carl Starfelt, and Marcos Alonso in defense; Javi Rueda, Miguel Román, Fer López, and Sergio Carreira in midfield; with Ferrán Jutglà, Borja Iglesias, and Williot Swedberg leading the attack.
Claudio Giráldez, speaking at a pre-match press conference, chose to downplay tension regarding his relationship with González. “What matters is that they have won the last three games since I arrived. We need to focus on football. I believe we have made errors in our statements and in understanding matters that are not overly significant. The real question is who wins on the pitch, and they have done that in our previous meetings.”
Giróldez reflected positively on his interactions with González, noting, “I don’t know if he is upset with me; I have no issues with him. Every time we have spoken, it has been amicable, and we have mutual friends.” He praised González’s achievements, stating, “His work at Espanyol has been spectacular. His team being sixth in such a challenging league speaks volumes.”
This upcoming match not only represents a tactical battle between two ambitious coaches but also highlights both teams’ aspirations to secure a spot in European competitions, making the encounter one to watch in the ongoing season.