April 17, 2025
2 Minute Read
Barcelona v Celta Vigo Prediction & Tips
Saturday | 14:15 UTC | Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium | La Liga
Barcelona return to domestic duty on Saturday afternoon as they host Celta Vigo at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium. With just a few rounds remaining in the La Liga season, every point matters — and Barca won’t want to slip after midweek drama in Europe.
Barcelona Still in Control… But Showing Cracks
Barcelona remain 4 points clear at the top of the table heading into the weekend, but Tuesday night’s 3-1 defeat to Dortmund in the Champions League was a major warning. Despite progressing 5-3 on aggregate, Hansi Flick will be concerned by how his side lost control of that second leg.
They’ve also not been blowing teams away at home lately. Barca have failed to win by more than a single goal in 6 of their last 10 La Liga home games, and the potential for a European hangover is very real. After their last visit to Dortmund earlier in the season, they suffered a 1-0 home defeat to Leganes in La Liga just days later.
Celta Vigo Can Cause Problems
Celta Vigo travel to Catalonia in decent away form. Claudio Giraldez’s side have only lost once in their last six La Liga road matches, including an impressive 2-1 win at Mallorca and a 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid. They’ve shown plenty of resilience and rarely get blown away; only one of their last 10 away defeats has come by more than a single goal.
That trend holds in this fixture too. Celta have covered a +2 handicap in 3 of their last 4 league visits to Barcelona. They may not win on Saturday, but I expect them to stay competitive, especially against a tired Barca squad.
How the Bookies See It
Barcelona are strong favourites at 1.29, while Celta Vigo are 8.40 to pull off the upset. The draw is priced at 6.00. But the value may lie in the handicap market as Celta Vigo +2 is available at 1.62 and has a strong chance of landing based on recent history and form.
Head-to-Head: Competitive Clashes
Recent meetings between these two have been tighter than many might expect. While Barca often edge the result, Celta rarely leave empty-handed without putting up a fight, especially when visiting. The last 4 meetings have seen both teams score and a combined 15 goals across those games.
Players to Watch
Robert Lewandowski will likely lead the line again for Barcelona, while Celta’s Alfon Gonzalez could be key to pinning back the Barca backline. Keep an eye on Iago Aspas too — the experienced forward has been a constant thorn in Barca’s side over the years.
Predicted Lineups
Barcelona: Szczesny, Kounde, Cubarsi, Arouja, Martin, De Jong, Pedri, Gavi, Raphinha, Lewandowski, Yamal
Celta Vigo: Guaita, Alsonso, Starfelt, Rodriguez, Mingueza, Moriba, Beltran, Carreira, Gonzalez, Aspas, Duran.
Stephen’s Betting Tips
✅ Celta Vigo +2 Handicap – 1.62
✅ BTTS – Yes – 1.64
✅ Correct Score: Barcelona 2-1 – 8.50
Odds correct at time of writing.
