Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the La Liga match.
Barcelona arrive in Vigo eager to bounce back after their recent defeat to Real Sociedad (0:1) and ready to return to winning ways. Celta Vigo, sitting mid-table, will look to exploit Barcelona's defensive lapses and score at least once. Fortunately for them, they know how to find the net at Balaidos.
Celta Vigo
Celta Vigo have shown mixed form in recent rounds. Of their 11 matches, they have lost 6, pushing them to the middle of the table. Their defence is among the worst in La Liga, conceding 1.7 goals per match, although they do score an average of 1.53 goals themselves. In head-to-head encounters with Barcelona, Celta has often found the back of the net, scoring in eight of nine games on their home turf. The main threat comes from their veteran players. Iago Aspas and Borja Iglesias have each scored four times. Notably, in only one of their last six matches did the team fail to score — a 0:3 loss to Leganés.
Barcelona
Barcelona showcase immense offensive prowess, scoring 40 goals in 13 matches (averaging 3.07 per game). They are winning both at home and away. However, their last outing against Real Sociedad was an exception (0:1). Before this unexpected loss, they had a remarkable run of seven victories, scoring no fewer than three goals in each. Their key players are in excellent form: Raphinha Belloli (7+ 6), La Liga's top scorer Robert Lewandowski (14+ 2), and young talent Lamine Yamal (5+ 7). Lamine Yamal's absence was felt in the match against Real Sociedad. Still, Barcelona have conceded four times in their last six league matches.
Celta Vigo vs Barcelona Prediction
Considering both teams' attacking capabilities and defensive vulnerabilities, the match promises to be high-scoring. Historically, Celta Vigo can score against Barcelona at home. Meanwhile, Barcelona will unleash their attacking might once again. Moreover, the home defence isn't the most reliable in the league. Therefore, we'll go with the bet on both teams to score.
