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Celta Vigo logo
La Liga | Gameweek 38
Jun 4, 2023 at 8pm UK
Estadio de Balaídos
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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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CBarcelona38284670205088
2Real Madrid38246875363978
3Atletico MadridAtletico38238770333777
4Real Sociedad38218951351671
5Villarreal381971259401964
6Real BetisBetis38179124641560
7Osasuna38158153742-553
8Athletic Bilbao38149154743451
9Mallorca38148163743-650
10GironaGirona381310155855349
11Rayo Vallecano381310154553-849
12Sevilla381310154754-749
13Celta Vigo381110174353-1043
14CadizCadiz381012163053-2342
15Valencia38119184245-342
16Getafe381012163445-1142
17Almeria38118194965-1641
RReal ValladolidValladolid38117203363-3040
REspanyol38813175269-1737
RElcheElche38510233067-3725

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