Overview
- Celta return home on a five‑match winning run after a rotated side cruised 0–3 in Zagreb in the Europa League.
- Barcelona travel after a Clásico defeat and a draw in Bruges, having failed to win away in LaLiga since September 25.
- Key absences for Barcelona include Ter Stegen, Pedri, Raphinha, Gavi and Joan García, with Jules Koundé a doubt and Eric García set to play in a protective mask.
- Analysts highlight Celta’s vulnerable left defensive channel as a target for Barcelona’s right‑sided attacks, with Lamine Yamal, overlapping runs and diagonal balls expected to test that area.
- Hansi Flick signals no change to Barcelona’s playing model, though the returns of Robert Lewandowski and Dani Olmo offer tactical tweaks, as history weighs with only two Barça wins in their last ten visits to Balaídos.