Barcelona vs Celta Vigo Match Preview & Predictions

Barcelona vs Celta Vigo predictions and match preview for Sunday’s LaLiga match. Read on for the head-to-head, team news and predicted lineups as Ronald Koeman’s side aim to stay in the title race.

Barcelona vs Celta Vigo Preview

Barcelona’s season looks to be petering out with a lot of favours elsewhere now needed for them to get their hands on the league trophy. They can only take care of their own business and hope for the best but it won’t necessarily be simple here against a Celta Vigo side that has ended the season well.

Ronald Koeman’s side will be unable to win the title should Atleti defeat Osasuna on Sunday so this could end up being a pretty miserable afternoon for the Catalans even if they do win. In truth though, the damage has most likely already been done. They’ve dropped 7 points in their last 4 games at this most crucial stage in the season to go from title favourites to barely even contenders.

That raises all sorts of questions about what the future may hold for Koeman. He has brought style and substance at times this season and they now feel like a more balanced side than they did at any point last term. However that failure to deliver when it really matters doesn’t reflect well on him. He may point to that merely being the result of a team that is going through a regeneration process with several young players perhaps not quite ready to compete with the very best sides and still learning how to deal with pressure situations.

That will be a matter for Joan Laporta and we should get answers pretty soon. There is no question who will be in charge of Celta Vigo next season though with Chacho Coudet having revitalised this team. They’ve reeled off 4 straight wins to push themselves back into European contention but they do still need favours elsewhere even if they pull off a famous victory at Camp Nou.

They weren’t at their best in midweek in truth. Nolito’s goal sealed a 1-0 win over relegation-threatened Getafe at Balaidos. This should be a far more entertaining game with two of the more entertaining sides in LaLiga both needing to go for the win. Celta’s record against the top sides is not good though with only 1 point vs top six opposition (at the time of writing) so far this season.

Head to Head

• Last 6 Competitive Meetings: 3 Barcelona Wins, 1 Celta Wins, 2 Draws.
• Barcelona won 3-0 at Balaidos earlier in the season.
• They’ve won 5 of the last 6 meetings at Camp Nou.
• They scored 4+ goals in 4 of those games.

Team News

Frenkie de Jong is suspended for Barcelona while Ronald Araujo is an injury doubt.

Renato Tapia and Jeison Murillo continue to be significant absentees for Celta.

Predicted Barcelona Starting Lineup:

Ter Stegen – Lenglet, Pique, Mingueza – Alba, Pedri, Busquets, Dest – Griezmann, Messi, Dembele (3-4-3)

Predicted Celta Vigo Starting Lineup:

Villar – Martin, Araujo, Aidoo, Mallo – Beltran – Nolito, Suarez, Mendez – Mina, Aspas (4-1-3-2)

Barcelona vs Celta Vigo Prediction: Barcelona to win 3-2

Celta Vigo are certainly capable of competing well here against a Barcelona side that let a 2-0 lead slip to draw 3-3 at Levante in midweek. The likes of Iago Aspas would dearly love to make a big impression in a big game like this with Euro 2020 on the horizon and they will be right up for it with European qualification still possible. A high-scoring affair looks likely but Celta’s very poor record against the top six makes an upset seem unlikely.