Celta Vigo will take on Athletic Bilbao in a crucial La Liga match scheduled for 02:30 on August 31, 2026. This matchup marks the third round of the 2026/27 season, and Celta is eager to secure their first victory of the campaign.

Despite a slow start, which included a goalless draw against Valencia and a narrow 1-2 defeat to Osasuna, Celta has shown promise with their overall performance. The team is looking to leverage the home advantage at Abanca-Balaidos to regain confidence. Historically, Celta has performed well against Bilbao at home, winning their last two encounters with scores of 2-0 in December 2025 and 2-1 in May 2024.

On the other hand, Athletic Bilbao is facing a challenging start to the season under new coach Edin Terzic, having lost both of their opening matches against Sevilla (1-3) and Barcelona (0-2). The team's defensive issues have been glaring, with 20 goals conceded in their last 10 matches, including pre-season friendlies. This poor form, compounded by psychological pressure, makes their trip to Galicia particularly daunting.

In terms of squad updates, Celta Vigo will be without Ilaix Moriba due to suspension, but key players like Iago Aspas, Williot Swedberg, and Borja Iglesias are ready to lead the attack. Bilbao, meanwhile, will rely on defenders Sancet, Nico Williams, and Gorka Guruzeta to turn their fortunes around.

Recent head-to-head statistics favor Celta Vigo, who have won 5 out of the last 10 meetings, with 1 draw and 4 losses. At home, they have won 3 out of the last 4 matches against Bilbao. Given Celta's current form and the struggles of Bilbao, the home team is expected to capitalize on their strengths.

The anticipated lineups are as follows:

• Celta Vigo (3-4-3): Radu; Rodriguez, Lago, Alonso; Carreira, Roman, Febas, Galan; El Abdellaoui, Jutgla, Alvarez.
• Athletic Bilbao (4-2-3-1): Simon; Boiro, Paredes, Alvarez, Areso; Canales, Gerenabarrena; Berenguer, Sancet, N. Williams; Guruzeta.

With the home crowd's support and Bilbao's defensive vulnerabilities, Celta Vigo is well-positioned to claim all three points in this encounter. Predictions suggest a close match, with a likely scoreline of Celta Vigo 2-1 Athletic Bilbao.