LA LIGA PREVIEW: BARCELONA VS CELTA VIGO

INTRODUCTION

Barcelona will look to return back to winning ways as they host Celta Vigo at the Spotify Camp Nou.

It was a disappointing European outing once again for the Catalans, and they'll be primed for revenge on Wednesday, but they have to first deal with what's in front of them in the form of Celta and more importantly, Iago Aspas, who has proved to be their Archilles' heel time and again.

 While it's been a largely disappointing european campaign, The Catalans have got their domestic campaign off to a flying start, and they have only kept soaring. A win over Celta will take them back to the top of the pile. Celta have however, had mixed results so far this season, but they boast enough quality to cause Barcelona a few problems.

INTERESTING STATS 

• Barcelona have won their last six La Liga matches and have kept a clean sheet in their last five league games in a row.
• The hosts are undefeated in 18 of their last 20 home games against Celta Vigo in all competitions.
• However, Barça would be foolish to overlook their opponents this weekend, as they have only won two of their past five meetings with Celta (D2, L1).
• Barcelona haven’t won back-to-back matches against Celta since doing the double over them in the 2013/14 campaign when Xavi was still in the playing squad.
• The visitors have lost three of the last four away matches.

Last five meetings (all La Liga)
10/05/22 Barça 3-1 Celta
06/11/21 Celta 3-3 Barça
16/05/21 Barça 1-2 Celta
01/10/20 Celta 0-3 Barça
27/06/20 Celta 2-2 Barça

TEAM NEWS.

Barcelona lost Andreas Christensen and Franck Kessie to injuries this week, but Frenkie DeJong has been welcomed back into the squad after being declared match fit. The growing list of injuries has also forced Xavi to call up a few players from the B squad, like central defender Chadi Riad, Right back Marc Casadó and Midfielder Pablo Torre. With the crucial contest against Inter later in the week, Xavi will look to share the minutes appropriately. 

Celta Vigo will do without Francisco Cervi due to suspension, otherwise they have no absentees for this clash. Barcelona bogey man Iago Aspas had to deal with a stomach bug last weekend but he should be fit enough for this. Two former Barcelona players who recently joined Celta, Carles Perez and Oscar Mingueza, will hope to get minutes as they come back to their former home.

Where and when are Barcelona vs Celta Vigo playing?

• Location: Barcelona, Spain
• Stadium: Spotify Camp Nou
• Date: Sunday 9 October
• Kick-off Time: 20:00 BST / 15:00 EST / 12:00 PST
• VAR: Jose Luis Gonzalez Gonzalez
• Referee: Jose Luis Munera Montero

CONCLUSION

Celta Vigo have proved capable of causing Barcelona problems in the past and will want to do so here again. Their hosts however, are roaring to put the mid-week defeat behind them with a big statement and will be fired up to return to the summit of La Liga with a victory here. Based on quality and overall form, Barcelona should be able to take all 3 points from this game.

UCL PREVIEW: INTER VS BARCELONA

INTRODUCTION

Barcelona travel to the San Siro for their next UCL adventure, crossing swords with the blue side of Milan.

Save for the somewhat undeserved loss in Germany, Barcelona have been in scintillating form this season, currently on top of La Liga, leading every stat. They had to grind out a victory at Mallorca, but given that Barcelona usually struggle after the international break, the result was a welcome one, regardless of how it was gotten.

The Blaugrana might be flying high, but the same can't be said of their Italian hosts. They currently sit 9th at the Serie A table, struggling with form and fitness all season. Lukaku's return has not yielded the expected results so far, and despite the quality they possess, they haven't been able to get their engines running. Today's game gives them a chance to change their fortunes.

INTERESTING STATS

- Barcelona have an impressive record against Inter Milan on the European stage and have won eight out of the 14 matches played between the two teams, as opposed to Inter Milan's two victories.

- This fixture carries a special significance for Barcelona forward Ansu Fati, who became the youngest goalscorer in UEFA Champions League history with his goal against Inter Milan at the San Siro in 2019.

- Barcelona's away victories against Inter Milan have been separated by a period of 60 years, with their previous two such place taking place in 2019 and 1959.

- Inter Milan have lost six matches against Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League - the most against a single opponent in the competition.

- Barcelona have suffered defeat in three of their last four UEFA Champions League matches away from home in the group stage - as many defeats as they had suffered in the 25 such games preceding this run.

- Inter Milan have suffered defeat in their last two home games in the UEFA Champions League and have suffered three such defeats in a row on only one occasion in the past in the competition.

- Inter have let in at least 2 goals in 4 of their last 7 games.

- Barcelona have lost just once in their nine outings this season.

Last Five meetings 

10/12/20 Inter 1-2 Barcelona

2/10/20   Barcelona 2-1 Inter

6/11/18   Inter 1-1 Barcelona

24/10/18 Barcelona 2-0 Inter

28/4/10   Barcelona 1-0 Inter

TEAM NEWS

Inter

Inzaghi will be without the services of their midfield Lynchpin, Marcelo Brozovic, who sustained a hamstring injury during the break. Romelu Lukaku is also working his way back to fitness but is unlikely to be available for this game. The degree to which Lautaro Martinez will play a part in this remains to be seen, as he sustained some discomfort following their defeat to Roma. La Masia product Andre Onana is expected to replace Handanovic between the sticks.

Inter will likely line up in a 3-5-2 formation, with Dimarco and Dumfries joining in the midfield to help out Calhanoglu and Barella. It's crucial they they don't get overrun by Barcelona in midfield, which is a real possibility. Skriniar, Acerbi and Bastoni will guard Onana. Edin Dzeko will be supported by either Martinez or Joaquin Correa.

Barcelona

 Just like his counterpart, Xavi will have to do with some absentees in the form of Araujo, Kounde, Depay, Bellerín and DeJong, who was initially thought to be on his way to be fit enough to make the trip to Italy.

Their makeshift backline worked fairly well against Mallorca, so Xavi still has quality options to call upon. Eric Garcia is expected to return to the lineup, replacing Pique. It remains to be seen who starts at Left back between Balde and Alonso, if Roberto doesn't start at RB. 

Who ever controls the midfield in this game will likely control proceedings, as such, The midfield trio of Busquets, Pedri and Gavi are expected to start. Robert Lewandowski, a man on a mission, will likely be flanked by Dembele and Raphinha in a classic 4-3-3 formation.

Where and when are Inter vs Barcelona playing?

Location: Milan, Inter

Stadium: San Siro

Date: Tuesday 4 October

Kick-off Time: 20:00 BST / 15:00 EST / 12:00 PST

VAR: Pol van Boekel (NED)

Referee: Slavko Vincic (SVN)

CONCLUSION

The Nerazzuri will be desperate to put their woes behind them by winning this game, but that'll be an uphill climb with the highest of difficulties as they need to get past an in form Barcelona, who are expected to control proceedings and go back to Spain with all 3 points.