Barcelona face critical test against Celta de Vigo before Copa del Rey final

BARCELONA, SPAIN - APRIL 14: Players of Barcelona celebrates the first goal during the La Liga match between Barcelona and Valencia at Camp Nou on April 14, 2018 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN - APRIL 14: Players of Barcelona celebrates the first goal during the La Liga match between Barcelona and Valencia at Camp Nou on April 14, 2018 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)

On Tuesday, Barcelona will travel to Balaidos to take on Celta de Vigo and a victory will put the Catalan giants one step closer to securing the La Liga title.

After Barcelona’s success over Valencia, securing a 2-1 victory at Camp Nou, all the focus has now turned to their upcoming duel against Celta de Vigo. Barcelona will have one eye set on Celta with the other on Saturday’s Copa del Rey final.

Their midweek fixture will not be a game for rotations, as the sole objective will be to secure the three points. Barcelona will most likely start with their strongest line-up to avoid any mishaps or complications before the Copa del Rey final. A win will serve to lift the squad’s current spirits after their humiliating collapse against Roma.

Recent Meetings

Juan Carlos Unzué’s men took a beating in the Copa Del Rey round of 16, as Lionel Messi and Co. dumped them from the competition with a convincing 6-1 aggregate win. However, things were different in La Liga. The ninth-place contenders put out a tough fight against the Catalans during their visit to the Camp Nou in the first half of the season, as they managed to escape the city of Cataluyna with a 2-2 draw.

BARCELONA, SPAIN – JANUARY 11: Ousmane Dembele (R) of FC Barcelona fights for the ball with Brais Mendez Portela of RC Celta de Vigo during the Copa Del Rey 2017-18 Round of 16 (2nd leg) match between FC Barcelona and RC Celta de Vigo at Camp Nou on 11 January 2018 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Power Sport Images/Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN – JANUARY 11: Ousmane Dembele (R) of FC Barcelona fights for the ball with Brais Mendez Portela of RC Celta de Vigo during the Copa Del Rey 2017-18 Round of 16 (2nd leg) match between FC Barcelona and RC Celta de Vigo at Camp Nou on 11 January 2018 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Power Sport Images/Getty Images)

Now the ball is in Celta’s field, with Barcelona having to travel to Balaidos to face their opponents and their passionate fans. Celta have proven to be a tricky team to beat especially when they are at home; therefore indicating an intense match.

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Mathematically La Liga Champions yet?

If Barcelona manage to pick up three points at the Estadio Balaidos, it will leave the Blaugrana in an excellent position, only four points away from mathematically winning the league. Ernesto Valverde’s men currently have a comfortable lead on the table, 11 in front of Atletico Madrid and 15 away from Real Madrid.

Next: Barca gets past Valencia

Overall, the La Liga title practically looks to already be in the bag but a slip-up against Celta could complicate things. Barca will go up against a hungry Sevilla in the Copa del Rey final at the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano and the team will be looking to recover their spirits especially after the disastrous and shocking exit from the Champions League.