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Barcelona logo
La Liga
Nov 1, 2014 at 7pm UK
 
Celta Vigo logo

0-1

FT(HT: 0-0)
Larrivey (55')

Preview: Barcelona vs. Celta Vigo

Sports Mole previews Saturday's La Liga meeting between league leaders Barcelona and Europe-chasing Celta Vigo.

Luis Enrique will be looking to guide his Barcelona side back to winning ways against former club Celta Vigo on Saturday following last weekend's disappointing El Clasico defeat at the hands of Real Madrid.

The 3-1 reverse at the Bernabeu saw Barca's lead at the top cut to just one point, with their unbeaten run coming to an end as a result of the setback against their arch-rivals.

The Catalan giants have the opportunity to regain their hold on the summit when they host a Celta side who have lacked consistency of late, winning one, drawing one and losing one of their last three league games.

A resounding 3-0 win over Levante last time out saw the Celts claim a Europa League spot, though, ensuring that they will provide stern opposition for Barcelona at the Camp Nou.

Claudio Bravo is likely to retain his place in goal, despite seeing his net breached for the first time this season in that defeat against Madrid, while a decision over Luis Suarez is still to be made.

The Liverpool striker made his long-awaited debut last weekend, bagging an assist inside four minutes in the Spanish capital, and he is likely to start against Celta as he looks to build up his match fitness.

Jeremy Mathieu is expected to be fielded in a makeshift left-back position once more, despite the gamble backfiring last time out, while the visitors will field Joaquin Larrivey and Nolito up top.

The latter is reportedly on the brink of a call-up to the Spanish national side, which will give him even more incentive to find the target at the home of the current league leaders.

Recent form

Barcelona: WDWWWL

Celta Vigo: DWWLDW

Possible starting lineups

Barcelona: Bravo, Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Mathieu, Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta, Suarez, Messi, Neymar

Celta Vigo: Alvarez, Mallo, Cabral, Gomex, Jonny, Krohn-Dehli, Radoja, Hernandez, Mina, Larrivey, Nolito

Sports Mole says: 2-0


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Written by
Daniel Lewis
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Luis Suarez of FC Barcelona looks on during the Joan Gamper Trophy match between FC Barcelona and Club Leon at Camp Nou on August 18, 2014
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona17122350193138
2Atletico MadridAtletico17115131112038
3Real Madrid17114237162137
4Athletic Bilbao1896327161133
5Mallorca188371821-327
6Villarreal167542827126
7Real Sociedad177461611525
8Osasuna176742225-325
9Real BetisBetis176652021-124
10GironaGirona176472325-222
11Sevilla176471823-522
12Celta Vigo176382528-321
13Rayo Vallecano165561819-120
14Las PalmasLas Palmas175482227-519
15Getafe173771114-316
16AlavesAlaves174491928-916
17Leganes163671423-915
18Espanyol1642101528-1314
19Real ValladolidValladolid1733111234-2212
20Valencia152491323-1010


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