π° Table Of Contents
Barcelona v Celta Vigo match preview
Barcelona will be aiming to move seven points clear at the top of LaLiga and complete a successful week when Celta Vigo visit the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Saturday.
The five-time Champions League winners lost for the first time since December 21 in all competitions with a 3-1 defeat at Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday, but their 4-0 first-leg win ensured they progressed to a semi-final against Inter.
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Qualifying Preview and F1 Betting Odds
“We played against an excellent side in Borussia Dortmund, who made life impossible for us,” manager Hansi Flick said afterwards, adding that being in the final four is “the only thing that matters”.
“We have to look at the positives and not the negatives. We have a great team who have done brilliantly up to now and that is what matters… it will be important to look back at this game and accept what happened.”
You just gotta love Wojciech SzczΔsny ππ pic.twitter.com/gJcACCQj2c
β FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 18, 2025
Only Barca and Real Betis have taken more points in their last nine league matches than Celta Vigo, who are in the running for European qualification and aiming to close a five-point gap on sixth-place Betis immediately above them.
The Sky Blues’ eight-match unbeaten run came to an end last Saturday, losing 2-0 at home to Espanyol courtesy of Roberto Fernandez goals in either half.
A 2-1 victory at eighth-placed Mallorca a week earlier was their second successive triumph as part of a four-game unbeaten run on the road that started with a 1-1 draw at third-placed Atletico Madrid, where they led until the 81st minute.
Alfon’s 84th-minute reply and Hugo Alvarez’s equaliser two minutes later earned them a late 2-2 draw at Barcelona when the teams met on November 23.
Focus. pic.twitter.com/BY0APCgeI3
β RC Celta (@RCCelta) April 17, 2025
Barca v Celta Vigo team news
Inigo Martinez could return in defence in place of Ronald Araujo for Barcelona, having been rested against Dortmund because the centre-back was at risk of suspension.
Midfielder Pedri, too, could be promoted from the bench after being introduced as a late substitute at the Westfalenstadion.
Dani Olmo made a brief appearance as a replacement following an adductor problem. Goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, midfielders Marc Bernal and Marc Casado and left-back Alejandro Balde remain out.
Sweden centre-back Carl Starfelt is out for Celta Vigo, having been substituted after 15 minutes of their defeat to Espanyol.
Jones El-Abdellaoui – a 19-year-old winger who has been an unused substitute in nine LaLiga games this season – is also not in their squad because of injury.
TGIF πͺ pic.twitter.com/swqPGgyDbA
β FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 18, 2025
Barcelona v Celta Vigo expected line-ups
Barcelona starting XI: Szczesny, Kounde, Martinez, Cubarsi, Balde, De Jong, Pedri, Yamal, Fermin, Raphinha, Lewandowski
Celta Vigo starting XI: Guaita, Rodriguez, Sotelo, Alonso, Mingueza, Carreira, Duran, Beltran, Moriba, Alfon, Aspas
How to watch Barca v Celta Vigo: Live stream, TV channel
Kick-off on Saturday is at 15:15, with live coverage on LaLigaTV and Premier Player.
Various subscription packages are available. Via streaming and apps, Premier Player costs Β£15.99 a month, Β£10.99 a month annually, Β£120 a year upfront or Β£7.99 a month for LaLigaTV only.
Barcelona v Celta Vigo stats
- Barcelona have won 5 of the last 7 matches in the LaLiga while scoring more than 1.5 goals
- In 3 of the last 4 Barcelona matches the sum of goals was under 2.5
- In 3 of the last 4 Barcelona matches the sum of goals was under 3.5
- In 3 of the last 4 Barcelona matches in the LaLiga, the sum of goals was under 3.5
- In 14 of the last 16 Celta Vigo matches in the LaLiga, the sum of goals was under 3.5
- In 10 of the last 12 Celta Vigo matches the sum of goals was under 3.5
- In 3 of the last 4 Celta Vigo matches the sum of goals was under 2.5
- In 3 of the last 4 Celta Vigo matches in the LaLiga, the sum of goals was under 2.5
Barcelona v Celta Vigo prediction
Celta Vigo have lost five of their last six trips to Barcelona but recovered from a Lionel Messi opener to win 2-1 there in May 2021, including an 89th-minute winner.
Their fine league run may have been interrupted at just the wrong time immediately before taking on the team in imperious form in the division. Expect Barca to win 1-0.
