Celta Vigo vs Barcelona

Mid-table Celta Vigo and table-topping Barcelona are set to trade tackles Estadio de Balaidos in an exciting La Liga showdown.

Celta Vigo may have spent the international break licking their wounds after conceding a heartbreaking 95th-minute equalizer in a 2-2 draw at Real Betis. However, the hosts come into this fixture amid their longest uneaten La Liga streak this season (W2, D1), inspiring confidence around Claudio Giráldez’s camp that he could become only the fourth Celta manager to win their first La Liga match against Barcelona. The recent H2H history can only fuel Giráldez’s optimism, with Celta suffering just two defeats across their last ten top-flight H2Hs on home turf (W4, D4). Moreover, ‘Los Celestes’ have won four of their seven league matches at the Balaidos this season (D1, L2), with the only defeats coming against Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid.

Meanwhile, Barcelona slumped to a disturbing 1-0 away loss to Real Sociedad just before the international break, failing to unleash a shot on target in a league game for the first time since 2014. That’s a stark contrast to Barca’s free-scoring form this season, with Hansi Flick’s well-oiled machine bagging an intimidating 40 goals in the opening 13 rounds en route to 11 wins and just two defeats! However, both those reverses came on hostile turf, meaning they can’t afford to take this trip lightly. Adding to this sentiment, they’re now only six points clear of second-placed Real Madrid, who also have a game in hand. But before the abovementioned slump in San Sebastian, ‘Los Blaugranas’ had won three consecutive away games in all competitions, netting 3+ goals on each occasion.