Vigo is a place where Barcelona traditionally struggle – they’ve beaten Celta just once there in the last six-and-a-half years so it won’t be easy for them at Balaidos on Saturday.
It’s also fair to say that this is pretty poor Barca vintage, the Catalan giants are currently down in ninth position in La Liga, having picked up just 16 points from their opening 11 matches. A win would be a welcome tonic for a team which has picked up just one point in its last three league matches.
Barca are currently battling a litany of injuries though and although at a club of that size and with such quality and depth in the squad it cannot be used as an excuse, it does offer some mitigation as to why they’ve been so bad that it cost Ronald Koeman his job. Former midfielder Xavi is now expected to become their new manager.
In terms of the defence, losing Gerard Pique is a big and recent blow and he will likely be replaced by the returning Ronald Araujo. Sergino Dest is also out with a back problem and is expected to miss out. Sergi Roberto could be in contention but Oscar Mingueza is expected to continue at-right back.
It’s as you move further up the pitch that the full problems come to light, with Pedri still out alongside Martin Braithwaite, Sergio Aguero and Ousmane Dembele.
Aguero is out until early February after being diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat and Dembele returned from injury in midweek only to be sidelined again straight away with a muscle problem.
One bit of good news for the Blaugrana though, is Ansu Fati and Frenkie de Jong returned from injury in midweek in a double boost.
How Barcelona could line up against Celta
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