Everything Barca
Fansided

Celta vs Barcelona: Expected Starting XI for low-key clash

By Chiranjib Ghosh

SABADELL, SPAIN - MARCH 06: Jasper Cillessen of FC Barcelona with the ball during the Supercopa de Catalunya match between FC Barcelona and Girona FC at Nova Creu Alta on March 06, 2019 in Sabadell, Spain. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
SABADELL, SPAIN - MARCH 06: Jasper Cillessen of FC Barcelona with the ball during the Supercopa de Catalunya match between FC Barcelona and Girona FC at Nova Creu Alta on March 06, 2019 in Sabadell, Spain. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Barcelona will travel to Balaídos to end a 3-match winless run

The race for the La Liga title is done and dusted, with Barcelona bagging the league title for the second consecutive season. But the battle for survival is still on at the bottom end of the table, and Cetla Vigo occupy a precarious 17th position.

Ernesto Valverde has rested almost all of the big names for the trip to Galicia, with first-team players Ivan Rakitić and Sergio Busquets suspended. So, Celta will be looking to take advantage of this to pull themselves away from the danger zone.

Expected Starting XI (4-3-3):

Goalkeeper: Jasper Cillessen
Right-back: Moussa Wagué
Centre-back(right): Jeison Murillo
Centre-back(left): Samuel Umtiti
Left-back: Thomas Vermaelen
Central playmaker(right): Álex Collado
Holding midfielder: Jean-Clair Todibo
Central playmaker(left): Riqui Puig
Right winger: Carles Aleñá
Centre-forward: Kevin-Prince Boateng
Left winger: Malcom

Jasper Cillessen, who is set to leave the club at the end of the season, will make his first in a string of last appearances. Senegal international Moussa Wagué will come in at right-back, with Thomas Vermaelen replacing first-choice Jordi Alba at left-back.

In central defence, Jeison Murillo is likely to return to the starting lineup in place of the rested Gerard Piqué. Samuel Umtiti is also expected to get playing time. With Rakitić, Vidal, Busquets and Arthur all set to be rested, a young trio is expected to come in.

More from Everything Barca

Álex Collado is set to make his first-team debut, while Riqui Puig returns after a good performance against Huesca. January signing Jean-Clair Todibo is also expected to start in the pivot role usually occupied by Sergio Busquets.

Carles Aleñá could be shifted to a more attacking role on the right wing, with Malcom moving to the left to replace compatriot Philippe Coutinho. Up front, Kevin-Prince Boateng is expected to act as a false nine who could hold up the ball for the wingers to run amok.

Arthur is a candidate for a second-half substitute, along with Ousmane Dembélé. The young Frenchman needs some minutes after missing a sitter after coming off the bench against Liverpool. He needs to rebuild his confidence going into the end of the season.

Next. Barça without Lionel Messi is an extremely frightening idea. dark

Depending on the performance of Thomas Vermaelen and Moussa Wagué as full-backs, Nélson Semedo could also come off the bench. Considering the fact that Celta will go all out for a win, the primary objective of Ernesto Valverde’s side should be a draw.

Home/La Liga News