Óscar Mingueza Scouting Report 2024/25: Celta Vigo’s La Masia-Produced Utility Player

Who Is Óscar Mingueza?

Heading into the first international break of the 2024/25 La Liga season, we have had the opportunity to understand how various teams have looked to set up and which players have made an impact in the first four matches.

An unlikely star has shone bright enough to capture the attention of fans across Europe, with Óscar Mingueza’s excellent form having an incredible impact on the success of Celta Vigo with Claudio Giráldezs tactics.

With Mingueza having the time to reflect upon his poor form and lack of confidence, which saw him deemed surplus to requirements under Xavi’s reign at Barcelona, the Spaniard’s footballing evolution has allowed him to flourish at Celta Vigo, with success in all three thirds of the pitch.

Despite spending the early years of his career as a right-sided central defender under Ronald Koeman, Mingueza’s terrific La Liga form began to emerge in the second half of last season when he was allowed to showcase his creative talents as a wing-back.

Outside of the intense pressure surrounding his fellow La Masia graduates at Barcelona, Mingueza has successfully evolved his style of play and added useful qualities to his arsenal, with fans praising his positional versatility.

His performances have marked a monumental moment in his footballing journey, with Luis de la Fuente awarding him just his second international call-up to a Spain side looking to continue their fine form after being crowned European and Olympic champions this summer.

This tactical analysis and Óscar Mingueza scout report will begin to highlight how Mingueza has elevated his game at Celta Vigo.

Our analysis will pay particular attention to how he has broken away from the public perception that he was ‘just a central defender’.

Mingueza’s footballing metamorphosis is a testament to his La Masia background and his competence in playing a progressive style of football.

Still, his time away from his boyhood club has taught us plenty about what makes up the perfect ‘utility player’.

Óscar Mingueza Style Of Play & Player Profile

One of the most important aspects of Mingueza’s overall play would be the threat that he poses when lined up on either side of the Celta Vigo formation, possessing great talents when occupying the wide areas on the left or right flank.

These decisions to move Mingueza around the pitch have allowed him to flourish—he is no longer shackled by defensive positioning, which perhaps limited his ability to stand out in an already fiercely competitive Barcelona squad.

First of all, we must discuss how Mingueza has been effective when acting as the right wing-back for Giráldez’s side, with increased freedom to progress high up the pitch and act as an offensive weapon for Celta Vigo.

When in possession, Celta Vigo’s central defenders can set up in their 3-4-2-1 formation, operating at increased widths to stretch the oppositions forward line and ultimately increase their opportunity to pick out effective passing outlets from the defence.

Mingueza, highlighted below, gains possession between the lines with an opportunity to progress quickly.

The two roaming advanced midfielders, or ‘number tens’ for Celta Vigo, are massively influential.

Iago Aspas, in particular, builds an important bond with Mingueza as they interact within the right half-space.