Celta Vigo will host Barcelona at the Estadio Abanca-Balaídos on Sunday.
Both sides will be looking to secure all three points ahead of the international break, with Celta looking to extend their exceptional run of form. Barcelona aim to maintain their position near the top of the standings.
Celta Vigo vs Barcelona – Match preview and team news
- Date: Sunday, 9th November.
- Kick-off: 8pm BST.
- Venue: Estadio Abanca-Balaidos, Vigo.
Celta Vigo team news
The injury list for Celta remains relatively manageable. Javi Rueda continues his recovery from injury and is unavailable for selection, along with Ionut Radu, who won’t be back in the squad until late November.
Hugo Alvarez and Williot Swedberg are also doubts due to ongoing fitness concerns. Despite these absences, Giraldez has cultivated a very impressive team that is now on a five-match winning streak across all competitions. Key players include forward and leading goalscorer Borja Iglesias, who has netted four goals already this season.
Barcelona team news
Barcelona will be without several key players for the trip to Balaídos. Centre-back Eric Garcia suffered a suspected broken nose during the Champions League clash against Club Brugge last week.
The Spanish defender is expected to miss the fixture, with manager Hansi Flick preferring to start Ronald Araujo and Pau Cubarsi in defence. Garcia could potentially return for Athletic Bilbao on November 22nd.
Brazilian winger Raphinha remains sidelined and is completely ruled out for this weekend. He has been dealing with a persistent hamstring problem since September, and Barcelona’s medical team has decided not to rush his return.
Andreas Christensen is also a major doubt due to a calf injury that has proven difficult to overcome, though he remains in contention. Midfielder Pedri continues his long-term recovery from a muscular problem with a likely return against Athletic Bilbao, whilst midfielder Gavi is out until early 2026 following knee surgery.
Goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen remains unavailable due to back concerns, but the good news is Joan Garcia is back in training. Also, Robert Lewandowski and Dani Olmo have successfully returned from injury and both featured in Barcelona’s 3-3 Champions League draw against Club Brugge last week. Pau Cubarsi has overcome muscle discomfort and is available for selection after being given extra rest.
Form
Celta Vigo
Celta Vigo have enjoyed a remarkable turnaround in form recently, winning their last five consecutive matches across all competitions.
The Galicians remain unbeaten in their last eight games, demonstrating consistency and defensive solidity that have caught many observers by surprise. They currently sit in 12th place in La Liga with 13 points from 11 matches, though their recent performances suggest they are a team moving in the right direction.
Barcelona
Barcelona thrice came from behind to secure a 3-3 draw away to Club Brugge in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday. Before their Champions League fixture, Barcelona claimed a 3-1 home victory over Elche in La Liga.
However, Barcelona are aiming to avoid losing three successive away La Liga games for the first time since December 2002, indicating they have struggled on their travels in recent weeks. The Catalans currently occupy second place in La Liga with 25 points from 11 matches.
Predicted lineups
Celta Vigo: Villar; Rodriguez, Starfelt, Alonso; Mingueza, Beltran, Moriba, Carreira; Jutgla, Iglesias, Zaragoza.
Barcelona: Szczesny; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Balde; Casado, De Jong; Yamal, Fermin, Rashford; Torres.
How to watch Celta Vigo vs Barcelona?
In the UK, the Celta Vigo vs Barcelona match can be watched on the Premier League’s official broadcaster.
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