Who: Barcelona vs Celta Vigo
What: Spanish LaLiga
The place: Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, Barcelona, Spain
When: Saturday at 4:15pm (14:15 GMT)
Comply with Al Jazeera Sport‘s stay textual content and picture commentary stream.
Barcelona will try to increase their lead on the prime of LaLiga to seven factors after they entertain Celta Vigo on Saturday.
Defending champions, Actual Madrid, are second within the desk however not in motion till Sunday after they face Athletic Membership.
The league leaders are removed from blissful, nevertheless, with the scheduling of their matches within the Spanish prime flight as they chase a quadruple this season.
What are Barcelona upset about?
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has demanded to satisfy with LaLiga officers over what he referred to as a “joke” schedule, saying Spanish soccer was failing to care for gamers.
The Catalan giants’ LaLiga sport at Actual Valladolid on Saturday, Could 3, will kick off at 9:00pm (19:00 GMT) after being moved from a day begin on Sunday, Could 4.
That rescheduling nonetheless provides them lower than three days to arrange for the pivotal Champions League semifinal return leg at Inter Milan on Could 6.
“I need to see this man who’s chargeable for that. For me, it’s a joke,” Flick advised a information convention on Friday.
“It’s unbelievable and now we have no time to relaxation … the fellows who’re chargeable for that, I need to talk about with them, as a result of they don’t know how it’s.”
What can Barcelona nonetheless win this season?
The Champions League is one in every of three tournaments Barcelona are nonetheless competing in, exacerbating challenges regarding fixture congestion that Flick is acquainted with after a trophy-laden spell at Bayern Munich.
However the German supervisor mentioned the state of affairs dealing with his staff earlier than an enormous European match left him “speechless”.
“I by no means had this earlier than. Each league protects their golf equipment after they play within the Champions League, particularly within the semifinal,” he mentioned.
“Bundesliga, Premier League, take care concerning the golf equipment. However right here not. It’s simply allow them to play.”
Barcelona already claimed the Spanish Tremendous Cup earlier this season by defeating fierce rivals Real 5-2 in Saudi Arabia.
Picture end? 📸 pic.twitter.com/o8tr7LO0kq
— LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN) April 15, 2025
What’s the type e-book like for Barcelona?
Barcelona wish to bounce again after a 3-1 loss at Borussia Dortmund within the Champions League quarterfinals on Tuesday handed them their first defeat of 2025, though the Catalans progressed to the semi-finals 5-3 on combination.
How are Celta Vigo fairing in LaLiga?
Celta Vigo are seventh within the standings, chasing European soccer, and Flick praised their 37-year-old coach Claudio Giraldez, who got here on this season and lifted a membership that completed the final three campaigns within the backside half.
“I’ve the very best respect for his work, he’s coached an incredible staff … it has nothing to do along with his age,” Flick mentioned.
“Celta have a transparent thought of how they need to play, they’re very courageous of their build-up.
“For us, it’s necessary we present our strengths, possibly what we missed in Dortmund. We spoke concerning the conditions we had in Dortmund, and now we have to do higher tomorrow … We now have to play at our highest degree. Additionally, they like their away matches.”
Raphinha on the left. 🇧🇷
Lamine on the correct. 🇪🇸What a duo on the Barça wings… 💙❤️ pic.twitter.com/8NVBEZL6l2
— LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN) April 18, 2025
Head-to-head
That is the 58th assembly between the golf equipment, with Barcelona profitable on 28 events and Celta profitable on 13.
Barca are unbeaten within the final three encounters and have solely misplaced one of many final six clashes between the edges.
When did Barcelona and Celta Vigo final meet?
Barca seemed to have claimed victory at Celta of their LaLiga assembly in November as they held a 2-0 lead with solely six minutes of regular time to play.
Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski scored Barca’s targets however after Marc Casado was despatched off within the 82nd minute, Celta claimed a 2-2 draw due to targets from Alfon Gonzalez and Hugo Alvarez.
Barcelona staff information
Alejandro Balde, Marc Casado, Marc Bernal and Marc-Andre ter Stegen are all absent for Barca because of accidents.
Celta Vigo staff information
Hugo Alvarez and Carl Starfelt are Celta’s solely two absentees. Each are dominated out by thigh accidents.
