Celta Vigo begin their Copa del Rey campaign on Wednesday 28 October against Salamanca UDS in the round of 128. The match is scheduled for 21:00 local time and marks the first cup fixture of the season for the sky-blue team, who arrive in mixed form but with confidence boosted by their latest win.
Managed by Claudio Giráldez, the side currently sits ninth in La Liga with 12 points and approaches this tie aiming for another victory. The team has recorded two wins, six draws and two losses from its ten league games, scoring ten goals and conceding seven. Their last outing was a goalless draw against Real Betis on Sunday 25 October, a result that keeps Celta in mid-table, fifteen points off the top. Prior to that, the team secured an important 1-2 away win against Celtic in Europe, thanks to a Javier Rodríguez Galiano brace, with goals in the 68th and 71st minutes.
Context and preparation
The team last used a 3-4-3 formation against Betis, a setup that could be repeated to manage the schedule. With a league match against Rayo Vallecano just around the corner on Saturday 31 October, Giráldez is likely to rotate his starting lineup. Rayo, currently 16th, will be the next domestic opponent.
Celta's recent form shows two wins, two draws and just one loss in their last five matches across all competitions. This Wednesday, the objective is clear: overcome the lower-league opponent and progress in a competition that always excites the fans. The match will be played behind closed doors at the Helmántico Stadium.
The coaching staff faces the task of managing workloads, as the squad tackles three games in seven days. The victory in Glasgow provided a morale boost to the dressing room, which now wants to transfer that confidence to the cup. The clash with Salamanca UDS is the first of a key week to set the tone for the season.
