Barça wants to tie the title against Celta

Barça receives Celta de Vigo this Wednesday at the Spotify Camp Nou (9:30 p.m.) on matchday 33 of LaLiga EA Sports, in an interweekly matchday that due to a change in dates will be played before matchday number 32 the following weekend, and in which Barça will try to tie up the league competition against a Celta that, like the Blaugranas, has said goodbye to Europe and wants to bounce back domestically.

The Blaugranas are leaders with a 6-point advantage over Real Madrid, after Madrid’s victory against Deportivo Alavés, and their desire is to recover the nine points lead with 18 left to play, with the Spotify Camp Nou Clásico in between. The League is still missing, yes, but beating Celta would bring the ‘culers’ a little closer to the alirón.

Fully immersed in the final and decisive stretch of the competition, Celta appears in Barcelona discouraged by the tough elimination in the Europa League. A similar feeling to what Barça felt when saying goodbye to the Champions League in the quarterfinals, in a tight and controversial tie against Atlético de Madrid. Both, back in the League, want to win and lift those spirits.

The precedent of the first round reinforces the Blaugrana’s optimism, although it also invites caution. Barça won 2-4 at the Abanca Balaídos in a demanding match, in which they had to take the lead on three occasions before sentencing thanks to Robert Lewandowski’s hat-trick. A warning that the Galician team competes and forces them to maintain the rhythm during the 90 minutes.

In fact, Celta has been one of the most uncomfortable rivals in recent years for the Blaugranas, despite the fact that the recent balance in Barcelona is favorable. The last four league matches in the Barça fiefdom ended with a local victory, but three of them by the minimum (4-3, 3-2 and 1-0), which shows a usually open duel with alternatives.

Hansi Flick’s team, which will be without Andreas Christensen, Marc Bernal and Raphinha due to injury, is clinging to its strength at home, where it has achieved a plethora of victories in LaLiga this season. A factor that makes them a clear favorite to take another step towards the title, supported by the collective solidity and the drive of their fans.

In front will be a Celta that arrives sixth with 44 points and signing the best season in its history away from home, with 27 points added in 15 outings and only two defeats away from Balaídos. A performance that allows them to dream of Europe via the League and that gives them arguments to try to attack a stadium in which no one has scored points this season.

The team led by Claudio Giráldez, however, will have to rebuild after their tough elimination in the quarterfinals of the Europa League against Freiburg (6-1 on aggregate), in addition to dealing with problems in defense due to the absence of Carl Starfelt, who is out due to low back pain and still unable to train with the group.

The lack of the Swedish central defender has generated doubts in the rear axis, where Giráldez has not finished finding a reliable substitute. Joseph Aidoo lost credit after the defeat against Oviedo, while the young Yoel Lago, an alternative in Europe, failed to establish himself, which adds uncertainty to a team that, even so, has shown personality throughout the season.

With both teams forced to pick themselves up after their continental disappointments, the duel at the Spotify Camp Nou is presented as a test of character: for Barça, one more step towards the title; For Celta, the opportunity to confirm its growth and continue fighting for Europe.

TECHNICAL SHEET.

–POSIBLE ALIGNMENTS.

BARCHA: Joan Garcia; Koundé, Cubarsí, Eric Garcia, Cancelo; Pedri, de Jong; Lamine Yamal, Fermín, Rashford; and Lewandowski.

CELTIC: Radu; Javi Rodríguez, Yoel Lago, Marcos Alonso; Javi Rueda, Matías Vecino, Ilaix Moriba, Sergio Carreira; Pablo Durán, Ferrán Jutglà and Williot Swedberg.

–REFEREE: Munuera Montero (C. Andaluz).

–STADIUM: Spotify Camp Nou.

–TIME: 9:30 p.m./Movistar+ LaLiga.