La Liga leaders Barcelona will look to recover from a shock loss before the international break when they visit Celta Vigo on Saturday night.

The Catalans suffered a 1-0 defeat to Real Sociedad last time out but remain six points ahead of Real Madrid, who sit second in the table. Meanwhile, Celta Vigo drew 2-2 with Real Betis in their previous league outing. Celta have accumulated 17 points from their 13 matches, with five wins, two draws, and six losses, placing them 11th in the table, just three points behind sixth-placed Athletic Bilbao. Known for their attacking prowess, the Sky Blues have scored 20 goals this season—better than all but Villarreal (23), Real Madrid (25), and Barcelona (40). However, their defense has struggled, conceding 22 goals—the joint-second worst in the league. Claudio Giraldez’s team were moments away from a 2-1 victory over Real Betis before Marc Bartra’s late equalizer. Despite the setback, they are unbeaten in their last three matches, which include a 1-0 win against Getafe at home. Celta have also won two of their last seven league meetings with Barcelona.

After finishing 13th last season, Celta are targeting a top-half finish this term, driven by their strong attacking performances and the contributions of key players in 2024-25.Barcelona, on the other hand, have been La Liga’s standout team this season, boasting 11 wins and two losses in their 13 matches. They sit atop the table with 33 points, six ahead of Real Madrid, though their rivals have a game in hand. Hansi Flick’s side are eager to bounce back from their defeat to Real Sociedad, which ended a seven-match winning streak. Barcelona won both league fixtures against Celta last season, including a 2-1 triumph in Vigo. The Catalans now face a packed schedule, with games against Celta, Brest, and Las Palmas before the month’s end, followed by a clash with Atletico Madrid on December 21. Real Madrid’s inconsistency adds intrigue to the title race, as Barcelona look to consolidate their lead.

In the Champions League, Barcelona sit sixth overall with nine points from four matches and lead the competition in scoring with 15 goals. For Celta, Iago Aspas remains a key player. The forward has scored 11 goals against Barcelona in La Liga, just one shy of Lionel Messi’s record in this fixture. A brace on Saturday would make Aspas the all-time top scorer in these encounters. This season, he has contributed four goals and three assists in 12 league appearances. Celta are managing injuries to Luca de la Torre, Jailson, and Sergio Carreira, though no new concerns have emerged. Javier Manquillo could replace Mihailo Ristic in the starting lineup. Barcelona’s injury list remains extensive, with Ansu Fati, Lamine Yamal, Eric Garcia, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Marc Bernal, Andreas Christensen, and Ronald Araujo unavailable. However, Robert Lewandowski has returned to training after missing Poland’s recent matches due to a back issue and is expected to start. Ferran Torres is also back following a hamstring injury. Dani Olmo could return to the lineup, while Gavi may start on the bench as the club manages his recovery. Frenkie de Jong is likely to feature in midfield alongside the in-form Marc Casado.

Celta have won four of their seven home league games this season, making them a formidable opponent. However, Barcelona boast La Liga’s best away record, winning six of their eight road games, and a narrow victory for Flick’s team is anticipated in this contest.

Best Tip : Barcelona win

Correct score: 1-3