Barcelona heads to the Estadio de Balaídos on Saturday night, determined to shake off their pre-international break shock loss to Real Sociedad.
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Leading La Liga by six points, the Catalan giants face a tough challenge from an unpredictable Celta Vigo side sitting mid-table but capable of surprises.
Match Preview
Celta Vigo – Mid-Table Underdogs with Firepower:
Celta Vigo’s season has been a mixed bag, as they currently sit 11th with 17 points from 13 matches. Despite their inconsistency, Claudio Giraldez’s side boasts one of the better attacking records in La Liga, scoring 20 goals, just behind powerhouses like Villarreal, Real Madrid, and Barcelona.
The Sky Blues’ defensive struggles tell a different story. Conceding 22 goals so far—the joint-second worst in the league—has undermined their efforts to climb higher.
Their last match against Real Betis encapsulated their season: a thrilling 2-2 draw that saw a last-minute equalizer deny them three points.
Still, Celta have been strong at home, winning four of their seven league matches at Balaídos this season. Iago Aspas, a club legend and La Liga’s all-time second-highest scorer in this fixture, will be the key man to watch.
Barcelona – Leaders with Something to Prove:
Barcelona remains atop the La Liga table with 33 points, six ahead of Real Madrid. However, Hansi Flick’s team heads into this fixture off the back of a surprise 1-0 defeat to Real Sociedad—a blemish on what has otherwise been a dominant domestic season.
The reigning champions boast the best away record in the league, with six wins from eight games.
With their sights set on maintaining their lead, Barcelona will rely on their attacking prowess, having scored a league-high 40 goals this season. Robert Lewandowski, returning from a back injury, will spearhead their charge.
Form Guide
- Celta Vigo (La Liga): Mixed form with recent improvements, unbeaten in their last three matches.
- Barcelona (La Liga): A surprise defeat last time out ended a seven-game winning streak.
Team News
Celta Vigo:
Iago Aspas, with 11 goals against Barcelona in his career, remains the Sky Blues’ most dangerous weapon. The veteran striker, backed by attacking talents like Strand Larsen and Luca de la Torre, will lead the charge.
Celta have a relatively clean bill of health, though doubts linger over Luca de la Torre, Jailson, and Sergio Carreira. A tactical adjustment could see Javier Manquillo replace Mihailo Ristic in defense.
Predicted Celta Vigo XI:
Guaita; J. Rodriguez, Starfelt, Alonso; Mingueza, Sotelo, Beltran, Manquillo; Bamba, Iglesias, Aspas
Barcelona:
The Blaugrana have been hit by injuries, with Ansu Fati, Lamine Yamal, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Andreas Christensen, and Ronald Araujo sidelined.
However, there’s good news for Hansi Flick as Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres have returned to training and are expected to feature.
Flick is likely to rotate slightly, with Dani Olmo set to start after being benched against Real Sociedad. Frenkie de Jong will marshal the midfield alongside Marc Casado, while the backline could see young Cubarsi partnering Inigo Martinez.
Predicted Barcelona XI:
Pena; Kounde, Cubarsi, Martinez, Balde; Casado, De Jong; Olmo, Pedri, Raphinha; Lewandowski
Match Prediction
Celta Vigo’s strong home form and Iago Aspas’ sharpness in attack make this a potentially tricky outing for Barcelona. However, the league leaders have shown resilience on the road, winning six of their eight away matches.
While Celta will likely put up a fight, Barcelona’s superior quality and attacking depth should see them edge out a narrow victory.
Prediction: Celta Vigo 1-2 Barcelona
Can Barcelona reinforce their lead at the top, or will Celta Vigo spring a surprise at Balaídos? The La Liga clash promises an exciting showdown on Saturday night.
