Celta Vigo vs Osasuna Prediction

Celta Vigo vs Osasuna prediction: tight game at Balaídos

The Celta Vigo vs Osasuna prediction for Friday, 6 February 2026 (20:00 GMT) starts with a simple idea: this one should feel tense, tactical, and decided by small moments. Estadio Abanca Balaídos hosts two teams with European hopes on the line, with Celta sitting 7th and Osasuna close behind in 9th. It’s the kind of fixture where the table adds pressure, the coaches add structure, and the fans add noise.

Celta under Claudio Giráldez have leaned into an aggressive, possession-first 3-4-3. They want the ball, they want height in their wing-backs, and they want to keep opponents stuck facing their own goal. Óscar Mingueza and Hugo Álvarez are key to that plan, stretching the pitch and feeding Borja Iglesias, who has 12 goals in all competitions and still looks like he enjoys wrestling centre-backs for a living. Iago Aspas remains the creative compass; even when he’s not flying, he still lands the passes that hurt you.

Form-wise, Celta’s recent run (WDWWWL) hints at momentum, even if the last week was bumpy: a 3–1 loss to Real Sociedad and a 1–1 Europa League draw with Red Star. The upside is their underlying identity hasn’t changed, and they’ve kept one of the league’s best defensive records. Getting Manu Fernández (ankle) and Carl Starfelt (back) back fit helps that cause, while Williot Swedberg is edging closer from a hamstring issue. Carlos Domínguez is still a question mark with an ankle problem.

Osasuna, now guided by Alessio Lisci, look more balanced than earlier in the season. The base shape is usually a 4.3-3-1 built for quick transitions, and their recent form (DWWLD) matches the eye test: stubborn, organized, and increasingly capable of scoring. They’ve just taken a spirited 2–2 draw away to Villarreal, and earlier this winter they also pulled off a surprise 2–2 at Real Sociedad at big odds. Still, they arrive with a real headache: Lucas Torró is suspended after picking up five yellow cards, so Iker Muñoz may have to hold the midfield together.

Key stories to watch before the whistle

There’s plenty of subplot here, starting with the “revenge” angle. Celta won 3–2 in Pamplona in October, and Osasuna will be keen to flip that. Raúl Moro is also a talking point after joining from Ajax for €5m; pace like his can turn a quiet match noisy in a second. Lisci even pointed out the danger of Aspas, basically warning his players that he doesn’t need peak athleticism to decide games—just one smart touch. Giráldez, for his part, has spoken about squad unity and managing the European schedule, which matters when legs get heavy late on.

• Head to head: the last meeting on 2025-02-21 ended 1–0 to Celta.
• Second-half trend: Osasuna often improve after 60 minutes, so Celta can’t switch off.
• Market context: home win 2.05, draw 3.35, away win 4.3—Celta are favoured, but not by a landslide.

Our AI betting tips and match prediction angles

Now to the numbers that shape our NerdyTips view. The best value-looking angle isn’t a wild scoreline; it’s control. Our Celta Vigo vs Osasuna Prediction model points to under 3.5 goals as the main betting tip at 1.26, with a trust score of 3.0/10. That low trust rating matters: it’s not screaming certainty, it’s suggesting the most likely direction given the matchup.

The projected match pattern supports that: Celta are forecast to have 56% possession, but Osasuna are expected to fire 12 shots to Celta’s 10, with both teams landing 4 on target. That’s a recipe for a game that has moments, not waves—attacks that end in decent looks, but not constant clear chances. The corner count is also modest (3–4, total 7), and discipline leans slightly Osasuna (2 yellows to 1), which fits a transition team that may need to stop counters the hard way.

In the 1X2 market, the AI leans 1X at 1.27 (trust 2.0/10). Given Celta’s higher squad value (€141.40m vs €88.50m) and home edge, that’s logical, but still cautious—Osasuna’s resilience keeps the draw in play. Put together, the predicted final score is 1–0, with 0–0 at half-time. If that lands, it will be the kind of match where the loudest moment might be the winning goal… and the second loudest is everyone arguing about whether it was offside.