Celta Vigo vs Barcelona Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Claudio Giraldez’ Celta side have been extremely fun and entertaining for the neutral to watch this season as they now prepare to take on La Liga’s top scorers Barcelona at Balaidos in Galicia this weekend.
Kick-off date/time: Saturday 23rd November, 2024: UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm
How to watch on TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so Celta Vigo vs Barcelona may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
How to watch online: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN+
Celta Vigo Preview: Silky Celta
Last season, former Liverpool and Real Madrid boss Rafa Benitez was sacked during the March international break with Celta Vigo in a relegation battle but B team coach Claudio Giraldez came in and lifted them away from the bottom three and the relegation places with the Galicians now a much-improved outfit in La Liga.
They have been very entertaining to watch, too, with their 13 matches in the Spanish top-flight consisting of 42 goals. Celta come into this one on the back of a 2-2 draw with Real Betis at the Benito Villamarin in Andalusia a couple of weeks ago meaning they are now unbeaten in their last four games across all competitions.
Barcelona Preview: Brilliant Blaugrana
Following the appointment of Hansi Flick over the summer, it has been a remarkably impressive start to the campaign for Barcelona with the Blaugrana sitting clear at the top-of-the-table in La Liga. The Catalans have been free flowing and fluent with an intensity to Flick’s pressing that has seen Barca score 55 goals in their 17 matches across all competitions so far this season.
Barcelona did suffer a defeat to underperforming Real Sociedad in their most recent outing a couple of weeks ago before the November international break at the Anoeta in the Basque Country in a game in which Barca didn’t have a shot on target for the first time in over ten years in La Liga with Robert Lewandowski scoring a controversial disallowed goal.
Celta Vigo Team News: Fully fit
Celta Vigo have a fully fit and available squad for this weekend’s clash with Barcelona so they will be able to name an unchanged eleven against Barcelona.
They have been dealing with injury issues to the likes of Luca de la Torre, Iago Aspas and Oscar Mingueza this season but all three available for this one.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Vicente Guaita; Javi Rodriguez, Starfelt, Marcos Alonso; Oscar Mingueza, Hugo Sotelo, Fran Beltran, Ristic; Bamba, Iago Aspas; Borja Iglesias
Unavailable:
Questionable:
Barcelona Team News: Several issues
Ronald Araujo appeared to be close to a return from injury but he remains sidelined alongside key men such as Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Andreas Christensen and Lamine Yamal.
The Catalans’ Poland striker, Robert Lewandowski, missed international duty with a back injury but should be fit and available for this one against Celta.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Inaki Pena; Kounde, Pau Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez, Alex Balde; Marc Casado, De Jong; Fermin Lopez, Pedri, Raphinha; Lewandowski
Unavailable: Ter Stegen (Injured), Christensen (Injured), Ronald Araujo (Injured), Hector Fort 9Injured), Marc Bernal (Injured), Lamine Yamal (Injured), Ansu Fati (Injured), Ferran Torres (Injured)
Questionable: Lewandowski (Injured)
Celta Vigo vs Barcelona Prediction
Celta Vigo, as mentioned, have been entertaining to watch with Claudio Giraldez well liked by experienced players such as Iago Aspas, who has previously had a reputation of being difficult to work with. They now face a Barcelona side that will fancy their chances of scoring multiple goals against anyone in La Liga so this should be quite fun to watch, albeit league leading Barcelona remain firm favourites.
Celta Vigo vs Barcelona Tip: Barcelona to win & both teams to score
