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Celta Vigo logo
La Liga | Gameweek 38
Jun 4, 2023 at 8pm UK
Estadio de Balaidos
Barcelona logo

Celta Vigo
2 - 1
Barcelona

Veiga (42', 65')
Cervi (82'), Tapia (90+6')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Fati (79')
Torres (55'), Raphinha (62')

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

Sports Mole previews Sunday's La Liga clash between Celta Vigo and Barcelona, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Celta Vigo will welcome La Liga champions Barcelona to the Estadio Municipal de Balaidos on Sunday evening knowing that a win would guarantee their position in Spain's top flight for another season.

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 Vigo coach Carlos Carvalhal before the match on April 22, 2023© Reuters

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.

Barcelona players celebrate winning the La Liga title on May 20, 2023© Reuters

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:

Barcelona La Liga form:


Team News

FC Barcelona's Alex Balde leaves the pitch after sustaining an injury on May 28, 2023© Reuters

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 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 the pair will also play no part in the team's final game of the season.

Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba have also been left out of the squad, with the pair preparing to leave on free transfers later this month, but Ansu Fati's two-goal showing against Mallorca last time out should see the Spain international keep his spot in the XI, while Marcos Alonso and Franck Kessie could also start.


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, Alonso; F de Jong, Kessie, Gavi; Dembele, Lewandowski, Fati


SM words green background

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.



For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting an away win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Away Win:data


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Game History

How you voted: Celta Vigo vs Barcelona

Celta Vigo
27.1%
Draw
12.1%
Barcelona
60.7%
140
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rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona13110240122833
2Real Madrid1283125111427
3Atletico MadridAtletico137511971226
4Villarreal127322319424
5Osasuna136341720-321
6Athletic Bilbao135531913620
7Real BetisBetis135531412220
8Real Sociedad135351110118
9Mallorca135351010018
10GironaGirona135351617-118
11Celta Vigo135262022-217
12Rayo Vallecano124441313016
13Sevilla134361218-615
14Leganes133551316-314
15AlavesAlaves134181422-813
16Las PalmasLas Palmas133371622-612
17Getafe13175811-310
18Espanyol123181122-1110
19Real ValladolidValladolid132381025-159
20Valencia11146817-97


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