Luis Enrique will return to Baladios tonight to face his former club Celta Vigo. In many ways, the Champions League-winning manager is grateful to the club. Celta were the team that gave him the license to showcase his managerial skills and cement a dream move to Barcelona after a tough stint at AS Roma. Celta were the side that smashed Barcelona last season. On their visit to Baladios last season, Barcelona suffered a horrible 4-1 loss to Celta Vigo and the Blaugrana will be keen to take revenge for the loss.
Barcelona managed to get a win from Borussia Park in the midweek despite falling 1-0 behind Borussia Monchengladbach but the German contingent gave the Blaugrana a hard run for their money. Luis Enrique’s side will be drained out for the Celta game but still have to come up with an inspiring display to keep up their push on league leaders Real Madrid.
Team news
Celta Vigo
Berizzo has no fresh injury concerns ahead of the Barcelona game. Carles Planas, Fabian Orellana and Claudio Beauvue all out with injuries.
Barcelona
Lionel Messi (groin) and Samuel Umtiti (knee) remain absent for the visitors.
Predicted line-ups and tactical setups
Celta Vigo
The hosts are likely to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Alvarez is likely to start under the bar behind the back four of Mallo, Gomez, Cabral and Castro. Former Barcelona man Fontas is likely to start in midfield alongside Hernandez. Wass, Rossi and Sisto are likely to start as the three attacking midfielders behind former Liverpool striker Iago Aspas.
Starting XI: Alvarez; Mallo, Gomez, Cabral, Castro; Hernández, Fontas; Wass, Rossi, Sisto; Aspas
Barcelona
Barcelona are likely to line up in their favoured 4-3-3 formation. Ter Stegen will start under the bar behind the back four of Roberto, Pique, Mascherano and Alba. Busquets will start in defensive midfield with Rakitic and Iniesta operating in box to box roles. The front three is likely to be Arda Turan, Luis Suarez and Neymar.
Starting XI: ter Stegen; Roberto, Piqué, Mascherano, Alba; Busquets, Rakitić, Iniesta; Turan, Suarez, Neymar
Key players
Celta Vigo- Igao Aspas
Aspas is yet to find his best form this season but the Spaniard is a player who always does well i9n big games. He stole the headlines against Barcelona last season in this game with a brace. Barcelona defence has to be wary of the threat Aspas poses.
Barcelona- Luis Suarez
Suarez has scored 8 goals from nine games in all competitions this season and has to live up to his usual standard in order to find his way through a stubborn Celta defence. Celta will play deep against the Catalan giants and Barcelona, without Messi, might find it hard, to cut their opponents open. So, the limelight will be on Suarez.
Odds
Celta win @ 7/1
Draw @ 10/3
Barcelona win @ 4/9
