Preview: Barcelona vs. Celta Vigo - prediction, team news, lineups

Xavi's side have picked up 13 points from their first five games of the new league season to sit second in the table, two points behind leaders Real Madrid, while Celta occupy 16th, collecting four points from their opening five matches during an underwhelming start.

Match preview

Barcelona's goalless draw with Getafe on the opening weekend of the new La Liga season was underwhelming to say the least, but the Catalan outfit have not missed a step since, winning their last five matches in all competitions.

Xavi's team have overcome Cadiz, Villarreal, Osasuna and Real Betis in their last four in the league to move onto 13 points, which as mentioned, is currently enough for second spot in the table behind Real Madrid.

Barcelona thumped Real Betis 5-0 in La Liga last time out and were winners by the same scoreline in the Champions League on Tuesday, with Belgian outfit Royal Antwerp swept aside at Camp Nou.

The Catalan side now have three league games against Celta, Mallorca and Sevilla before heading to Porto for their second game in the group stage of the Champions League, and it is difficult to see where their first defeat of the season is coming from at this moment in time.

Deadline-day arrivals Joao Felix and Joao Cancelo have settled effortlessly into life at Barcelona, and their squad certainly looks better equipped to deal with a busy season.

Barcelona beat Celta 1-0 in the corresponding match at Camp Nou last season, but the Sky Blues actually recorded a 2-1 victory in the reverse fixture in Vigo on the final weekend of the 2022-23 campaign.

Celta have found it difficult to get going this season, only picking up four points from their opening five matches, which has left them down in 16th position in the table.

Rafael Benitez's side took just one point from their opening three games of the campaign, drawing with Real Sociedad either side of home losses to Osasuna and Real Madrid.

Celta did manage to secure all three points away to Almeria before the international break, but they were beaten 1-0 by Mallorca last weekend and now face a trip to an in-form Barcelona.

The Sky Blues finished 13th in Spain's top flight last season, and they have now been present in each of the last 12 La Liga campaigns, including four top-half finishes.

Celta have only managed to score four times in La Liga this season, though, and their main forward, 36-year-old Iago Aspas, is yet to get off the mark in 2023-24.

Barcelona La Liga form:

Barcelona form (all competitions):

Celta Vigo La Liga form:

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Team News

Barcelona will again be missing Pedri due to a thigh problem, but there is a chance that Ronald Araujo could be back in the squad, as he is in the latter stages of his recovery from a hamstring issue.

Head coach Xavi has big decisions to make in terms of his team selection, especially in the final third of the field, with Raphinha, Ferran Torres and Lamine Yamal currently competing for the starting role on the right.

Felix netted a brace against Antwerp on Wednesday, following on from his goal against Real Betis, and the on-loan Atletico Madrid forward should retain his spot on the left.

Oriol Romeu is likely to be the player to miss out in central midfield, while Alejandro Balde will line up at left-back fresh from signing a new long-term contract with the Catalan giants.

Celta's squad is in good shape at the moment in terms of fitness, with Franco Cervi (muscle) their only confirmed absentee at this moment in time.

Sky Blues head coach Benitez is expected to resist the temptation to shuffle his pack following the loss to Mallorca, but there might be a change in attack, with Tasos Douvikas pushing to be included from the start.

Aspas, as mentioned, is yet to get off the mark this season in terms of goals, but the Spaniard is set to continue in the final third of the field, while Jonathan Bamba and Lucas de la Torre should also retain their starting roles.

Barcelona possible starting lineup:

Ter Stegen; Cancelo, Kounde, Christensen, Balde; Gundogan, F de Jong, Gavi; Yamal, Lewandowski, Felix

Celta Vigo possible starting lineup:

Villar; U Nunez, Starfelt, Dominguez; Mingueza, Beltran, De la Torre, Ristic; Douvikas, Aspas, Bamba

We say: Barcelona 2-0 Celta Vigo

Barcelona are absolutely flying at the moment, and it is really difficult to imagine them failing to collect another three points here. Celta are capable of making it an uncomfortable match, but Xavi's side should be too strong for their opponents in Saturday's encounter.

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