Rafa's boys have been underwater for months - now they must surface for air

Some matches define a season, and tonight's could bear that label for Rafa Benitez and his shaky reign in the northwest corner of Spain. Celta de Vigo started the survival marathon sluggishly, but their companions at the tail end of the race aren't moving much faster. Cadiz, their opponent tonight, has only taken three more points since the start on 13 August. That's why Benitez is considering changing the pace to accelerate before reaching the halfway mark around Christmas.

If they secure victory tonight, Celta won't just exit the relegation zone, where they've lingered since the eighth matchday, but also become the first team from the lower ranks to win since September. Yesterday, fellow relegation battlers Real Mallorca, Almeria and Sevilla all drew their matches.

The last game at Valencia seems to be the marked day for taking off. Celta has recently kept a clean sheet for the first time, showing they're closer to victory. Additionally, two precedents can boost their morale. Moreover, Cadiz is a direct rival, and the sky-blue team can't afford to lose more ground, especially at Balaídos. Their return to Vigo comes almost a month after that VAR-reviewed penalty call involving Tasos Douvikas. The pitch has had time to recover, resembling a carpet, and the Galician team has reset after failing to win at home in their first seven appearances.

Both teams enter the contest with a ten-game winless streak, desperate for a change. Furthermore, their stats are similar: they score little, concede a lot, and don't excel in ball possession. As the home team is under more pressure, Celta will have to assume the dominant role this time. Benítez acknowledged this aspect during the long training week. The Vigo team must control possession and the game against an opponent comfortable defending, with two compact lines, quality, and speed on the counter.

Anxiety is another factor to consider in this crucial clash. Cadiz began the league understanding that suffering is part of their DNA, but Celta has been staggering on the edge for a long time, dealing with situations like the current one. Moreover, the draw at Mestalla, the clean sheet, and surviving a nervy ending have surely unloaded a significant portion of the burden the sky-blue team carried on their shoulders.

LA LIGA - MATCHDAY 15

Friday

Las Palmas - Getafe 2-0 (1-0)

/Araujo 43, Herrera 90+2/

Saturday

Girona - Valencia 2-1 (0-0)

/Stuani 83, 88 - Duro 57/

Athletic Club - Rayo Vallecano 4-0 (1-0)

/Guruzeta 23, Espino 47 og, I. Williams 64, N Williams 68/

Real Madrid - Granada 2-0 (1-0)

/Diaz 26, Rodrygo 57/

Osasuna - Sociedad 1-1 (1-1)

/Gomez 2 - Sadiq 41/

Sunday

Mallorca - Alaves 0-0

Almeria - Betis 0-0

Sevilla - Villarreal 1-1 (0-0)

/Salas 75 - Morales 77/

Barcelona - Atletico Madrid 1-0 (1-0)

/Joao Felix 28/

Monday

23.00: (1.70) Celta (3.80) Cadiz (6.00)

***odds are subject to change