Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick is suitably wary of Celta Vigo after watching his side recover from two goals behind and win in last-gasp style at home to Os Celestes last season.
The visitors were 3-1 ahead after 63 minutes on that occasion – including a Borja Iglesias hat-trick – before losing to a 98th-minute Raphinha penalty at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.
“When we look back at all the matches we’ve played against them… every match is tough,” said Flick, whose side are back in action after their surprise Champions League semi-final exit to Atletico Madrid.
“We have to play at our best. It won’t be easy because they always do a great job and can control the game well.
“[La Liga] is the only competition left. We’ve had a couple of days of rest and the feeling and the atmosphere [in the squad] are extraordinary.
“Step by step, match by match, we need to perform at our highest level. We have to learn from past defeats. I see and feel that we can do it.”
Seventh last season, sixth-placed Celta Vigo are two points behind Real Betis in fifth but have lost four of their last five matches in all competitions.
Those defeats included a 6-1 aggregate loss to Freiburg in the Europa League quarter-finals and, in their last league game on, a 3-0 home thrashing by bottom side Oviedo.
“We’ve had a very heavy workload of matches and training, ” said head coach Claudio Giraldez. “We need to get back to our best level – the best version of each of us, mine first and foremost.
“We know we haven’t been playing well in the last few matches and I see everyone trying to figure out why and adjusting the aspects of our game that haven’t gone well.
“Barcelona have every attacking resource a football team could have. We’ve hurt them in the matches we’ve played against them.
“Last year we came close there. After going 3-1 up, we weren’t able to push forward with everything we had, nor were we able to defend properly. We fell a bit short.”
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Barcelona v Celta Vigo team news
Defender Andreas Christensen (knee) and Raphinha (hamstring) are sidelined for Barcelona, who have doubts over Fermin Lopez because the winger has been training in a protective mask after requiring stitches.
Frenkie de Jong could make his first start since recovering from injury, but fellow midfielder Marc Bernal may not feature because of a severe left-ankle sprain.
Sweden centre-back Carl Starfelt will miss a sixth straight game for Celta Vigo. “We’re worried,” said Giraldez.
“It’s not ideal; he’s not recovering well from the injury. He’s not training with the group at all. His back is bothering him.
“We’re taking it day by day, seeing how he is, and hopefully he can be back as soon as possible. He’s the one who’s most worried.”
Winger Hugo Alvarez (ankle), wideman Mihailo Ristic (muscle) and midfielder Miguel Roman (foot) are injured and defender Javi Rodriguez is a doubt.
Barcelona v Celta Vigo predicted line-ups
Barcelona starting XI: Joan Garcia, Jules Kounde, Pau Cubarsi, Eric Garcia, Joao Cancelo, Frenkie de Jong, Pedri, Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Marcus Rashford, Ferran Torres
Celta Vigo starting XI: Andrei Radu, Javi Rodriguez, Joseph Aidoo, Marcos Alonso, Sergio Carreira, Matias Vecino, Fer Lopez, Javier Rueda, Williot Swedberg, Pablo Duran, Antanon
Where to watch Barca v Celta Vigo: TV channel, live online streams
Barcelona vs Celta Vigo starts at 20:30 BST / 15:30 ET / 12:30 PT on Wednesday, with live coverage in the UK on Premier Sports 1 and streaming available on a vast range of devices via the Premier Sports app.
A Premier Sports subscription costs £120 a year, £11.99 per month on a 12-month contract or £16.99 per month with 30 days’ cancellation notice required.
Barcelona v Celta Vigo stats
- Barcelona are unbeaten in the last five editions of the fixture (D1) and have won the last four as the home team since a 2-1 defeat in May 2021
- A 4-2 Barca win at Celta Vigo last November ended a run of six meetings between the teams to have been draws or decided by no more than a goal, although the hosts equalised twice
- Both teams have scored in each of their last six games against each other (a total of 28 goals) and nine of the last 10 such matches
- The last 47 matches between Barca and Celta Vigo have each featured at least one goal, since a draw at Celta Vigo in February 1999
- Barca have won their last eight domestic matches, including five wins by exactly three goals along the way
- Only Liga top scorer Kylian Mbappe (23 goals and four assists) has more direct goal involvements in this season’s top flight than Barca’s Lamine Yamal (15 goals, 11 assists)
- Having conceded more than once in one of their preceding eight matches in all competitions (a 2-1 defeat at home to Real Madrid), Celta Vigo have conceded at least twice in each of their last six games
- All four of their wins in their last 10 matches have been away from home, going unbeaten in their last five in La Liga (W2)
- Marcos Alonso has attempted (1,948) and completed (1,756) the third-most passes in this season’s Liga
- Pau Cubarsi leads the way in both respects (2,339 attempted, 2,213 completed), ahead of Barca teammate Eric Garcia (1,972 attempted, 1,817 completed)
Prediction for Barcelona v Celta Vigo
We predict: Barcelona 3-1 Celta Vigo
Barca’s Champions League exit could work for or against them, but Flick was keen to talk up the response he has perceived among a squad who start nine points clear of second-placed Real Madrid. Despite the difficulty this fixture has tended to provide for Barcelona, this could be a good time to take on an out-of form Celta Vigo side.
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