Barcelona vs Celta Vigo prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2025-04-18 14:15.
[p]Despite losing 3-1 on Tuesday night at Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona won 5-3 on aggregate and advanced to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 2018/19. It was the Blaugrana’s first loss of the calendar year in all competitions (W20, D4), and the focus will now shift back to extending their four-point lead over Real Madrid in the La Liga title race, before their arch-rivals play on Sunday.[/p]
[p]The division’s top two will face off later this month in the Copa del Rey final, but before then, Hansi Flick’s men have a couple of Spanish top-flight fixtures to contend with, starting with the visit of Celta Vigo. The Sky Blues have been a bogey side for Barça in recent years, with the Catalan club only winning a minority of the last 15 league H2Hs (W7, D5, L3) – only Real Madrid have avoided defeat more often against Barça since the start of the 2017/18 season.[/p]
[p]Celta lost 2-0 at home to Espanyol last Saturday, ending their eight-game unbeaten sequence (W5, D3). While they occupy the last European qualification spot in La Liga ahead of this weekend, the race to finish seventh is incredibly tight, so a win here could prove priceless, with Mallorca and Real Sociedad on their tail.[/p]
[p]The challenge for Celta will be to halt their poor record away to Barcelona, who’ve beaten them on six of their last seven visits (W1). The Galicians’ form on their travels should give them some hope of improving upon that run, as they are unbeaten on their last four league trips (W2, D2) and could now win three consecutive top-flight away matches for the first time since January 2018.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: In 17 of Raphinha’s 19 scoring appearances for Barcelona this term, there have been at least four goals, including in the reverse fixture (2-2) when he netted the opener. Iago Aspas has 11 goals in 20 La Liga games against Barcelona – the most top-flight goals any player has scored against them in the 21st century.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Sixteen La Liga matches involving Barcelona this season have featured 2+ first-half goals – the highest such figure in the division. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Sridhar B[/i][/p]