Barça vs Celta: Flick's team seeks to get closer to the title and extend their streak in LaLiga

FC Barcelona will play this Saturday the match corresponding to matchday 32 of LaLiga EA Sports, with seven matches remaining until the end of the championship and with a four-point advantage over Real Madrid, in addition to another seven over Atlético.

Hansi Flick's team arrives with an undefeated streak of 12 matchdays (10 wins, 2 draws), after defeating Leganés last week in Butarque (0-1). However, the 'azulgrana' team fell on Tuesday in Dortmund (3-1), leaving behind an undefeated streak of 24 matches.

• 📺 Schedule and TV: when and where to watch the match live in Spain, Europe, America, Africa, and Asia: SEE

Facing them will be Claudio Giráldez's Celta, a rival that already complicated things for the 'culés' in the first round. The match in Balaídos on matchday 14 ended in a draw (2-2), after Barça wasted a two-goal lead in the final minutes.

Barça had taken an early lead thanks to a goal from Raphinha in the 15th minute. In the 61st minute, Robert Lewandowski seemed to seal the match with the partial 0-2. However, the Galicians reacted with a couple of goals in two minutes of 'azulgrana' confusion.

Alfonso González scored in the 84th minute, while Hugo Álvarez made it 2-2 in the 86th minute. This draw prolonged a slump for Flick's team in the final stretch of 2024, where the team barely won 1 out of 8 league matches, with 3 draws and 4 defeats.

⚽Analysis of the form of Barça and Celta for matchday 32

However, Barcelona managed to make a 180-degree turn in their league performance in 2025. The 'azulgrana' team started the second round with a draw in Getafe (1-1), but then added 9 consecutive victories to regain the lead in the tournament.

In the last two matchdays, however, the 'culés' have reduced their offensive production. A draw at home against Betis (1-1) and a victory in Butarque (0-1) maintain the Catalan team's undefeated streak this year in LaLiga, but the schedule, without a doubt, is starting to take its toll on the team.

Celta, on the other hand, had a very irregular end to 2024 and start to 2025. Claudio Giráldez's team did not win between matchdays 19 and 22, but then went 8 matches without defeat between matchdays 23 and 30, with 5 wins and 3 draws.

Surprisingly, last week, the Galicians fell in Balaídos against Espanyol (0-2), being their first defeat in the last two months. Thus, the Vigo team is seventh with 43 points, 27 less than Barça.

FC Barcelona: W/D/W/W/W

1. 🟢0-1 against Leganés in Butarque (matchday 31)
2. 🟡1-1 against Betis in Montjuïc (matchday 30)
3. 🟢4-1 against Girona in Montjuïc (matchday 29)
4. 🟢3-0 against Osasuna in Montjuïc (matchday 27)
5. 🟢2-4 against Atlético in Madrid (matchday 28)

Celta de Vigo: L/W/D/W/W

1. 🔴0-2 against Espanyol in Balaídos (matchday 31)
2. 🟢1-2 against Mallorca in Mallorca (matchday 30)
3. 🟡1-1 against Las Palmas in Balaídos (matchday 29)
4. 🟢0-1 against Valladolid in Valladolid (matchday 27)
5. 🟢2-1 against Leganés in Balaídos (matchday 28)

Barça must strike another blow of authority in LaLiga

Fermín López: assist and step forward of the player from Huelva for the starting position

For Barça, the match of matchday 32 of LaLiga represents the beginning of the final stretch of the season. In the next two weeks, the team will go for the treble with a very tough schedule, including two Clásicos (LaLiga and Copa) against Real Madrid and the 'semis' of Champions.

Before focusing on the Copa final (April 26) and the tie against Inter Milan (April 30 and May 6), it's time to play two LaLiga matchdays at home. The first, against Celta, is an opportunity to maintain a comfortable lead in the leadership, with six matches remaining.

Barça is still four points ahead of Madrid and seven ahead of Atlético, in addition to having an advantage in the head-to-head and goal difference against both rivals. The LaLiga schedule also gives a certain advantage to the 'culés', with 4 matches at home and 3 away.

• 📋 Squad list: the list of Barcelona players called up for the match: SEE

Against Celta, Hansi Flick will recover Dani Olmo, absent against Girona (4-1), Betis (1-1) and Leganés (0-1). The attacking midfielder played 4 minutes on Tuesday against Dortmund and hopes to continue gaining rhythm to arrive at the Copa final in top form.

However, the return of the player from Terrassa contrasts with the absence of Alejandro Balde. The full-back suffered a muscular injury in Butarque and will be out for at least a couple of weeks. The last time the '3' did not play in LaLiga was in the thrashing against Real Sociedad (4-0 on matchday 26).

Hansi Flick will put his stellar XI against Celta

Barcelona's lineup in the match against Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League

In that sense, although Barça will have to play again on Tuesday against Mallorca (21:30 CEST), it is likely that Flick will put his gala XI against the Galician team. Szcezny will remain in goal, now without the pressure that his undefeated streak as a 'culé' entailed, while Iñigo Martínez and Pau Cubarsí will return to the center of the defense.

Jules Koundé and Gerard Martín will be the full-backs, with the duo Frenkie de Jong-Pedri González again in charge of managing the 'azulgrana' football. In attack, the trident Lamine-Raphinha-Lewandowski could be accompanied by Olmo.

The other alternatives are Gavi and Fermín López, the latter a starter in both matches against Dortmund and in the visit to Leganés. Ferran Torres, Eric García and Ronald Araujo will again await their opportunity on the bench.

The Uruguayan took Iñigo's place in Germany, but did not have a good night. Koundé also did not look comfortable, who seems to need a break soon on the right side. However, Héctor Fort does not have Flick's confidence.

• ℹ️ Lineups: the possible starting XIs of FC Barcelona and Celta de Vigo: SEE

Celta seeks to keep the European dream alive

Celta, for its part, will try to return to the path of victory against a rival they have not defeated as a visitor since the 2020/21 season. Claudio Giráldez's team fell in their last three visits to Catalonia (3-2, 1-0 and 3-1), but this year they only add a couple of defeats away from home in 8 appearances.

In addition, the 'celestes' need to continue adding points to stay in European places. Spain has options to have six teams in the next edition of the Champions League, as long as Athletic (4th) wins the Europa League.

For now, LaLiga has already secured five spots for the next edition of the top club competition in Europe. Celta is seventh with 43 points, the same as Mallorca (8th) and a couple more than Real Sociedad (9th).

In principle, this would give them access to the Conference League, although they could also enter the Europa League if the number of teams qualified for the Champions League is increased. In the next matchday, Celta will host Villarreal (5th), while Mallorca will do the same against Barça.

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