Preview: Espanyol vs Celta Vigo — top-six scrap at RCDE Stadium
Espanyol and Celta Vigo meet at RCDE Stadium on Saturday, February 14, 2026, with kickoff set for 8: 00 a. m. ET. Both clubs are locked in a battle for European qualification: Espanyol sit sixth on 34 points while Celta are seventh on 33. Form, fitness and rotation for European duty will all shape what promises to be a tight, high-stakes encounter.
Match details
Kickoff: 8: 00 a. m. ET, Saturday, February 14, 2026. Venue: RCDE Stadium.
The fixture carries immediate table ramifications. A home win will help Espanyol consolidate sixth place and build momentum after a poor run, while a victory for Celta would see them leapfrog their hosts and strengthen their claim for a top-six finish.
Form guide
Espanyol arrive with worrying momentum: they have lost each of their last four La Liga matches and have been beaten in five of their last six outings. The club’s last league win came on December 22. Their home form this season has been mixed — six wins, one draw and five defeats from 12 league games — so confidence will be fragile despite a favourable recent head-to-head record against Celta.
Celta’s form is also patchy. The Sky Blues have taken one point from their last three league games and were beaten 2-1 at home by Osasuna in midweek. Their last La Liga victory was a 3-0 win over Rayo Vallecano on January 18, though European commitments loom with a Europa League knockout round playoff first leg in Greece next week.
Team news and likely changes
Espanyol will be without Javi Puado long-term due to a knee injury, but they otherwise approach the match with options. Carlos Romero and Román Terrats are back in the squad after missing the recent game against Villarreal. Manager Manolo González could freshen the attacking line-up with Kike García introduced late in games or hand a start to Cyril Ngonge, who impressed on his debut off the bench.
Celta have fewer immediate absences, though Álvaro Núñez is a fitness doubt. Claudio Giráldez is expected to rotate as he balances domestic duty with the Europa League. Oscillations in midfield and defence are possible, with Oscar Mingueza and Williot Swedberg pushing for involvement after being left out of the Osasuna XI.
Tactical outlook and key battles
Espanyol will look to reassert control through compact defending and quick transitions. Their ability to protect the flanks and supply forwards from wide areas will be crucial; a return to the kind of cohesion that delivered wins earlier in the season is needed to halt the slide.
Celta are likely to manage minutes for key players ahead of European action, but they remain dangerous on the break and in set-piece situations. Midfield control will be pivotal — whoever wins the center of the park should dictate tempo and create the clearest opportunities.
Key matchups to watch: Espanyol’s wide attackers against Celta’s full-backs, and the midfield duel that will determine second balls and transitions.
Matchday atmosphere and fan activities
The club will stage a Fan Zone ahead of the game, opening at 5: 00 a. m. ET on match day, offering family-friendly activities, music and food. Engagement initiatives and a costume contest aim to energize supporters before they take their seats for the early kickoff.
Prediction
This looks set to be a tight, nervy fixture with both teams under pressure. Espanyol’s poor run at present is counterbalanced by a strong recent record versus Celta, while the visitors must juggle European commitments. Expect a close encounter decided by fine margins — a draw or a narrow home win is the likeliest outcome. Predicted score: Espanyol 2-1 Celta Vigo.
