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

The home side are currently 17th in the table, one point above 18th-placed Real Valladolid, while Barcelona confirmed their position as champions last month, and the Catalan outfit will be bidding to record their 29th league victory of the campaign on the final matchday of action.

Match preview

Celta have spent the last 11 seasons in Spain's top flight, claiming four top-half finishes during that period, but they are in danger of being relegated to the Segunda Division for the 2023-24 campaign.

A disappointing season has seen the Sky Blues pick up just 40 points from their 37 matches, which has left them in 17th position in the table, one point ahead of Real Valladolid.

Four other teams are involved in the relegation battle, with Almeria, Valencia, Getafe and Cadiz also in danger of dropping into the Segunda Division for next season, and it is set to be a fascinating battle for survival.

Due to the head-to-head record being used to separate teams when they are level on points, the situation at the bottom is incredibly complicated, but Celta will be relegated if they lose and Valladolid win, while they might be relegated if they draw, Valladolid win and Cadiz manage to avoid defeat.

Carlos Carvalhal's side will enter this match off the back of a 1-0 loss to Cadiz, and they have not managed to triumph in the league since the end of April, which was a 1-0 home success over Elche.

All of the pressure is on Celta on Sunday, which could play into Barcelona's hands, but the Catalan outfit have not had it all their own way against the Sky Blues in recent years, winning just five of their last 11 meetings in Spain's top flight, which should hand the hosts confidence.

Xavi's side secured the La Liga title with a 4-2 success over Espanyol on May 14, but they then actually lost their next two against Real Sociedad and Real Valladolid.

Barcelona managed to return to winning ways last weekend, though, putting three unanswered goals past Mallorca, and they will now be aiming to end an excellent league season on a positive note.

Blaugrana have won the title for the first time since 2019, but they again failed to make it out of the group stage of the Champions League, so there is plenty of room for improvement.

Barcelona's lead at the top of the division is currently 11 points, proving themselves to be comfortably the best side in the league this term, and they will be hoping to break the 90-point barrier on Sunday before switching their attention to a hugely important summer transfer window.

Celta Vigo La Liga form:

L

L

L

L

D

L

Barcelona La Liga form:

W

W

W

L

L

W

Team News

Celta are again expected to be without the services of Fran Beltran and Agustin Marchesin for Sunday's contest, but the home side have no fresh injury concerns.

Iago Aspas was only a substitute against Cadiz last time out, but the 35-year-old, who has scored 12 league goals this season, should return to the starting side for this match.

Carvalhal could also reintroduce Haris Seferovic and Oscar Mingueza, as the head coach desperately looks for a winning formula on the final matchday of the campaign.

Barcelona, meanwhile, will definitely be without Alejandro Balde, who picked up an ankle injury during the three-goal success over Mallorca last time out.

Ronald Araujo and Pedri have recently been sidelined with muscular problems, meanwhile, and it seems unlikely that Xavi will be taking any risks with the long-term fitness of the duo.

Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba are set to be involved for the final time for Barcelona, with the pair preparing to leave on free transfers later this month, while Ansu Fati's two-goal showing against Mallorca last time out should see the Spain international keep his spot in the XI.

Celta Vigo possible starting lineup:

Villar; Mingueza, Aidoo, Nunez, Galan; Veiga, Tapia, O Rodriguez; Perez, Seferovic, Aspas

Barcelona possible starting lineup:

Ter Stegen; Roberto, Kounde, Christensen, Alba; F de Jong, Busquets, Gavi; Dembele, Lewandowski, Fati

We say: Celta Vigo 1-2 Barcelona

Celta need to win to guarantee their survival, but we are finding it very difficult to back the hosts with any real confidence. Barcelona are under no pressure, but the Catalan outfit have such quality across the field, and we are expecting the champions to end their campaign with a win.

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