Lionel Messi record vs. Celta Vigo

La Liga leaders Barcelona welcome Celta Vigo to Camp Nou on Saturday evening for their final match before the winter break.

The defending champions are in a good run of form in the Spanish top flight, winning each of their last three matches without conceding a goal.

Star man Lionel Messi scored a treble in the 5-0 win over Levante last weekend and now has 14 league goals to his name this term, while his tally of 33 in 2018 is unmatched by any player in the division.

With all eyes once again on the Argentina international this weekend, Sports Mole looks at his past record against Celta.

Messi cannot quite claim a goal-a-game record in this fixture, as is the case against many of his opponents, but nine goals in 14 meetings - as well as the same number of assists - is not bad going.

The Barca superstar struck twice in the second leg when the sides met in last season's Copa del Rey last 16, swinging the tie in his side's favour after being left out of the squad for the first leg.

That was Messi's third goal in three meetings with Celta in 2017-18, having also struck in the first of two 2-2 draws in La Liga.

Only once in the last five meetings has the five-time Ballon d'Or winner failed to find a way through against the Celts, in fact, following on from a three-match scoreless run between November 2014 and February 2016.