Barcelona will look to keep their place at the top of the La Liga table when they welcome Celta Vigo to Camp Nou this Sunday.
Venue: Camp Nou (Barcelona)
Key Statistics
Barcelona have scored the most goals in the league this season (199).
They have also conceded the least goals in the league (one goal).
Barcelona have won their last six league games.
Celta Vigo have lost their last two away league games, conceding seven goals.
The visitors have kept just one clean sheet in their last five away league games.
Head to head
Barcelona have won five of the last ten meetings with Celta Vigo (D3, L2).
Latest performances in all competitions
Barcelona: L-W–W-L-W
Celta Vigo: W-L-L-W-W
Barcelona
After their disappointing outing in the UEFA Champions League in midweek, Barcelona will turn their attention to taking all three points in their latest hurdle in their quest for the La Liga title.
The Blaugrana had a poor outing in the UCL on Tuesday against Inter Milan at the San Siro as they were beaten 1-0 by the hosts who scored through Hakan Calhanoglu. The loss was Barcelona’s second consecutive loss in the UCL and leaves them sitting third in their group and in danger of dropping to the Europa League next round.
Having done so last season which ultimately led to the sacking of Ronald Koeman, the hosts know that they are in a precarious position in Europe and will be willing to make amends when Simone Inzaghi’s side come to Camp Nou next week.
But for now, they will welcome Celta Vigo to their home ground looking to record their seven consecutive wins of the league season. Xavi’s men went top of the league table last weekend when they beat Real Mallorca 1-0 away from home. The result coupled with Real Madrid’s 1-1 draw with Osasuna took Barca to the summit of the Spanish top flight on goal difference.
With such poor form in Europe so far, the Catalan side cannot afford to also drop points in the domestic league. They will welcome Celta to Catalonia in good form though, as they are on a run of five consecutive clean sheets in the league.
Possible Barcelona starting line-up
Marc Ter Stegen; Sergi Roberto, Gerard Pique, Eric Garcia, Alex Balde; Gavi, Sergio Busquets, Pedri; Ansu Fati, Robert Lewandowski, Ousmane Dembele.
Injured: Hector Bellerin, Ronald Araujo, Memphis Depay, Jules Kounde, Andreas Christensen
Doubtful: Franck Kessie
Suspended: None
Celta Vigo
Celta Vigo will look to make it an unlikely two wins in two games when they travel to Catalonia on Sunday.
The visitors stunned early season title hopefuls Real Betis last weekend when they beat them 1-0 at home. Gabriel Viega struck early in the game to open the scoring for Celta before an early red card for Real Betis Luiz Felipe gave them the numerical advantage to add to their goals.
But in the end, the first-half goal by Viega was enough for them to put an end to a run of two games in which they lost by a three-goal deficit. It also ended a personal bad record for them against Betis as the win was their first over against Real Betis at the Municipal de Balaídos in five tries (W1, D2, L2).
The visitors will now look to snatch points off another La Liga big team when they visit Camp Nou on Sunday. Having beaten the Catalan side 2-1 here last year, they will come into this tie with high morale and the hope that they can get a positive result.
But a win here will only be possible if they can cut out the poor defending that has been their undoing in their last two away outings against Atletico Madrid (4-1 loss) and Valencia (3-0 loss).
Possible Celta Vigo starting line-up
Agustin Marchesin; Hugo Mallo, Unai Nunez, Joseph Aidoo, Javi Galan; Gabriel Veiga, Rodriguez Arnaiz, Fran Beltran, Augusto Solari; Carles Perez, Strand Larsen.
Injured: None
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Prediction
Barcelona 2-0 Celta Vigo
