Barcelona can take another La Liga title step by beating Celta Vigo
By Matt Addison
Barcelona haven’t pulled away at the top of La Liga despite Real Madrid’s struggles, but can take another step toward the title against Celta Vigo.
Table-topping Barcelona can move six points clear of second-placed Sevilla ahead of Los Rojiblancos’ game at Leganes on Sunday by beating Celta Vigo at Camp Nou on Saturday evening.
Days after hammering Levante 5-0, Barca know a point would mathematically confirm their status as league leaders on Christmas Day, with their next game not until Jan. 6.
Opponents Celta are mid-table; they have already lost as many as they have won this season and have been largely inconsistent.
A 2-0 win over Atletico Madrid in September is their biggest result of the season so far, but disappointing defeats to the likes of Girona and draws against Leganes and Getafe mean they occupy ninth position in the league standings.
For Barca, small steps towards title glory are the way forward – there is certainly no suggestion that they will be able to pull significantly clear.
Key battles
Lionel Messi has 14 goals this season — a goal every 81 minutes — as well as 10 assists. At the age of 31, he remains Barca’s talisman.
Luis Suarez has 11 goals and along with Messi, is the main threat to Celta central defenders Nestor Araujo and David Costas.
Ousmane Dembele has also been a threat, scoring six and impressing in between turning up late for training and being criticised for his attitude, and he will be the third attacker in the Barca frontline.
Philippe Coutinho in midfield needs to step up but has undoubted quality and is a very real threat. He has been criticized for some of his performances since signing for £142 million, but with Messi in form and taking the headlines, he has a chance to impress out of the spotlight.
Jozabed and Okay Yokuslu in the centre of the pitch for Celta will need to cover a lot of ground to stop the Brazilian, as well as the likes of Arturo Vidal, Ivan Rakitic and Sergio Busquets.
Maxi Gomez and Iago Aspas are Celta’s forwards, supported by Sofiane Boufal, the on-loan Southampton man.
Aspas was much-maligned at Liverpool but has 10 goals in 16 league matches this season and is a regular in the Spanish national squad – certainly someone for Clement Lenglet and Gerard Pique to keep an eye on.
Previous meetings
Barcelona have won two of their last three home games against Celta by five goals to nil, and won the game before that 6-1. Of the last 14 games between the sides, Barca have won exactly half.
At home, Celta have a much better record than at Camp Nou, drawing 2-2 with Barca last season, 1-1 the year before, and winning 4-3 in 2016.
The last time Celta got anything from a trip to Barca was in 2014 when they won 0-1 thanks to a goal from Joaquin Larrivey, assisted by Nolito.
In terms of a title challenge, Barca must make sure a similar shock result is not replicated here.