Barcelona vs Celta Vigo Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 Spanish Primera
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THE FACTS
When is Barcelona vs Celta Vigo on and what time does it start? Barcelona vs Celta Vigo will take place on Saturday 23rd September, 2023 – 17:30 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Barcelona vs Celta Vigo? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What TV channel is Barcelona vs Celta Vigo on in the UK? Barcelona vs Celta Vigo will be televised live on LaLigaTV, but La Liga matches are also televised occasionally on Viaplay Sports and ITV
Where can I stream Barcelona vs Celta Vigo in the UK? Barcelona vs Celta Vigo can be streamed live on Viaplay, while ITV matches can be streamed live on ITVX
THE LOWDOWN
BARCELONA
Under the management of Xavi, reigning champions Barcelona are hoping to improve upon last season. They won the league but performed in quite an unconvincing fashion but the Blaugrana have had a far more sensible summer in terms of spending and former Al Sadd manager Xavi will be expected to put together a more cohesive set of performances together this season.
They come into this on the back of a 5-0 thrashing of Royal Antwerp in their most recent outing, during the week, in the group stages of the UEFA Champions League. Barcelona have managed to collect 13 points in their opening five La Liga games with Barca hammering Betis by five goals to nil in the league last weekend, too.
CELTA VIGO
Last season, Eduardo Coudet was sacked in the early stages with Celta struggling down towards the bottom end of the table. Carlos Carvalhal had seemingly rescued the Galicians but they collapsed towards the end of the season and needed a final day win against champions Barcelona to escape a return to the second-tier.
Carvalhal was replaced by former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez and things continued in a poor manner, losing Gabri Veiga and then losing 2-0 at home to Osasuna on the final day of the season. Since then, though, they have performed in a much better way, despite taking just four points from their opening five matches of the 2023/24 La Liga campaign.
THE TEAM NEWS
BARCELONA
Xavi is having to deal with two key injuries to two youngsters but pivotal players in Uruguayan defender Ronald Araujo, as well as Spain midfielder Pedri.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): ter Stegen; Cancelo, Kounde, Christensen, Balde; Gavi, Romeu, de Jong; Torres, Lewandowski, Felix
UNAVAILABLE: Pedri (Injured), Araujo (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
CELTA VIGO
Rafa Benitez has one key injury issue for this weekend’s trip to reigning champions Barcelona as Franco Cervi is unavailable due to injury.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-3): Villar; Nunez, Starfelt, Dominguez; Mingueza, Beltran, de la Torre, Ristic; Strand Larsen, Aspas, Bamba
UNAVAILABLE: Cervi (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
Although they are not playing at Camp Nou but actually at the old Olympic Stadium, Barcelona have produced back-to-back 5-0 hammerings at home in the last week with both Betis and Antwerp feeling the full force of a much-improved Barca side. Celta have been stubborn and improving with Benitez likely to have some sort of plan to deal with Barcelona but another comfortable home win is the expected outcome of this one on Saturday evening.
TIP: BARCELONA TO WIN & OVER 2.5 GOALS
