Academica Coimbra vs Celta Vigo

First match for both teams in their preparation for the next season.

 

Academica Coimbra was the sensation in Portugal last season, winning the cup after a 1:0 victory over Sporting in the final. Because of this win the team will play in the Europa League this season and got a place directly in the Group Stage. But this summer there were a lot of departures in the squad, as big number of their regular players left. Academica depends a lot on the loan players they get from the big clubs in Portugal Porto, Benfica and Sporting and now the coach Pedro Emanuel will have to without almost half of his players from last season.

 

Diogo Melo (24/0 last season in all tournaments) moved to Nasaf.

 

Pepe Habib Sow (28/1) moved to Panathinaikos.

 

Eder (22/7) moved to Braga.

 

Diogo Valente (36/3) moved to Cluj.

 

David Simao (19/2) was on loan and now is back to Benfica.

 

Danilo (34/3) was on loan and now is back to Macae (Brazil).

 

Abdoulaye Ba (34/3) was on loan and now is back to Porto.

 

Cedric Soares (39/0) was on loan and now is back to Sporting.

 

Adrien Silva (37/8) was on loan and now is back to Sporting.

 

Academica made some new signings, but still the coach will need time and for sure it will be really hard to make a strong and effective squad in such a little time. The season in Portugal start on 18 August, but a week before that the team will play for the Suprecup against Porto.

 

Celta on other side won a promotion last season and is finally back, where the team belongs – among the best sides in Spain. Coach Paco Herrera managed to keep his best players, as still there is no player who have left the club. Above all this Celta managed to sign with two players and even strengthened their squad. Central defender Samuel Llorca came from Hercules (40/5 last season) and Gustavo Cabral, who was on loan from Arsenal Sarandi last season was bought for 500 000 euro. The team trained today with full squad.

 

The two teams has just started their preparation for the new season, but with all those departures in Academica and with Celta keeping their team and knowing each other I think that the Spanish side will be one idea better in the friendly match and can win this one.