Barcelona will host Celta Vigo in the eighth round of the Spanish League, on Sunday evening. The Reds and Blues started the league in good shape, winning six of their first seven league games, scoring the most (19) and conceding the fewest (1) goal. The guests also haven’t gotten off to a bad start, racking up ten points so far.
In the first matches of the season, the Catalans scored multiple-goal wins, but the international break broke their momentum. Against Mallorca, they created very few chances, producing only 0.73×G (expected goal), and thanks to Lewandowski’s solo flash they were able to get all three points. They didn’t know what to do with the opponent’s deep, orderly and compact defense. The situation was the same against Inter, with the difference that they did not score, while the Italians did once, and therefore they were defeated. The injured list has expanded compared to that match: in addition to Conde, Araujo, Bellerin and Memphis, Christensen and Casey are also unavailable, while Frenkie de Jong is already available for Xavi.
There was no solution against Catanaccio – Inter Barcelona 1-0
With ten points, Vígó is 11th in the table. They beat Girona (0-1), Cadiz (3-0) and Betis (1-0), lost to Real Madrid (1-4), Atlético Madrid (4-1) and Valencia (3-0), and drew 2- 2 with Espanol. They scored nine goals and conceded thirteen. The team’s best player, Iago Aspas, has started the season in excellent shape, already scoring five league goals and scoring at least once against Barcelona in every calendar year since 2016. Head coach Eduardo Codet can count on each of his players.
Looking at the two teams’ record against each other, Barcelona is better: in the previous 10 confrontations, there were five Catalan victories and two Figo victories, along with three draws. The last match between the two teams took place in the round of 36 of the previous league season at the Camp Nou, which Barcelona won 3-1.
Barcelona’s defense certainly consists of Sergi Roberto, Eric Garcia, Pique and Balde. It would come as no surprise that Frenkie de Jong, returning from injury, plays alongside Pedri and Jaffe in midfield in place of Busquets for a break. From the offensive line, Dembélé can get some rest, and instead could start Ferran Torres or Ansu Fati alongside Lewandowski and Ravenha. In this round, rivals Real Madrid collected the three points at home to Getafe, so Xavi’s men will need to win to retain the top spot in the league.
Barcelona – Celta Vigo
La Liga, round eight
Barcelona, Spotify Camp Nou
21.00
conducted by: Jose Luis Monoera Monteiro
F.C.B: Ter Stegen – Roberto, Piqué, Eric, Baldé – Gavi, Frenkie, Pedri – Raphinha, Lewandowski, Ferrán / Ansu
Celta Vigo: Marchesin – Mallo, Ido, Unai Nunez, Galan – Oscar Rodriguez, Vega, Beltran, Servi – Iago Aspas, Larsen
