BARCELONA, Spain — As Barcelona ready demself for an important La Liga match against Celta Vigo on Saturday, April 19, the stakes no dey play. Dem wan secure victory to maintain dem four-point lead on top of La Liga table while Celta dey chase European qualification.
Dis clash go happen for Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. Kickoff na 4:15 p.m. CET local time, wey mean 10:15 a.m. ET for di United States. Barcelona, wey don dey show strength this season, dey prepare to extend dem form and chase dem 28th La Liga title.
Barcelona recently qualify for UEFA Champions League semifinals but dem face a slight stumble when dem lose 3-1 to Borussia Dortmund last week. Still, dem progress with 5-3 aggregate. Coach Hansi Flick don express vex over di scheduling of dem matches, calling di current timetable “a joke,” stating it no dey allow dem enough rest.
“I want to see this guy who’s responsible for that. For me, it’s a joke,” Flick talk for news conference. E add say, “It’s unbelievable and we have no time to rest.” Di pressure dey build as dem look forward to a Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid, wey go happen soon.
On di other hand, Celta Vigo go enter dis match confident after dem show strong performance with entertaining, counter-attacking football under coach Claudio Giraldez. Last week dem face a setback with a 2-0 loss to Espanyol, but dem still within top seven and chasing for European football.
“I have the highest respect for his work; he’s coached a great team,” Flick talk about Giraldez. “Celta have a clear idea of how they want to play, they’re very brave in their build-up.”
Barcelona’s rising star, Lamine Yamal, neva dey hold body as e don score six goals and provide eleven assists in 28 matches dis season, working well with Robert Lewandowski, who get 25 goals, and Raphinha, who get 13 goals. Dem trio dey give strong offensive threat to any opponent.
For Celta Vigo, Iago Aspas dey spearhead di attack, scoring eight goals in 17 starts. Dem neva beat Barcelona since 2023, but dem manage hold dem to 2-2 draw in di last meeting wey happen late 2024.
Barcelona get small injuries to handle; dem dey without Alejandro Balde, Marc-André ter Stegen, and others due to injury, but dem still get enough squad depth to compete. Celta Vigo neva go get Carl Starfelt due to thigh injury.
As di match dey come, fans go dey expect high-level football and strategical play from both sides. Barcelona’s consistent performance this season dey under watch, as dem chase for a treble, with La Liga and Champions League trophy reachable.
Dis Na di 58th meeting between di two clubs; Barcelona don win 28 times while Celta don win 13 times. Di last three encounters show Barcelona dey strong with no losses, but Celta fit surprise dem on top di pitch for dis crucial match.
