Barcelona vs Celta Vigo: 7 Key Facts & Stats to Impress Your Mates Ahead of La Liga Clash

?Barcelona will be looking to get back on track when they take on Celta Vigo in La Liga after what has been a torrid week for Ernesto Valverde and his side.

First, they were stunned by three goals in seven second-half minutes as Levante condemned the Catalans to a 3-1 defeat, and on Tuesday they were ordinary in their stalemate against Slavia Praha at Camp Nou.

Despite their indifferent start to the campaign, Barca currently sit on top of La Liga – albeit by goal difference – and are also top of the ‘Group of Death’ in the Champions League.

Saturday’s opponents, Celta Vigo, come into this one is dismal form. Os Celestes have lost their last four outings and are yet to win away from home this season. Their poor start to the season left them with little choice but to sack Fran Escribá, their former boss leaving Celta 18th in La Liga, two points off safety.

So, to ensure your continental knowledge is levels above your pals, make sure you have a browse at the stats below – provided to you by those at ?Opta.


Bogey Side?

RC Celta de Vigo v FC Barcelona - La Liga

Since the start of 2014/15, Barcelona have suffered four defeats in La Liga against Celta Vigo, at least twice as many than against any other side in that period (P10 W4 D2L4).

However, of all sides that Barcelona have faced at least 50 times at home in La Liga, against no side have they lost fewer than they have vs Celta Vigo (P53 W40 D11 L2).

Bogey team? Well, maybe away from Camp Nou.


Home Comforts

Lionel Messi,Ivan Rakitic,Arturo Vidal,Luis Suarez

While it’s not Anfield, Camp Nou has proven to be quite the home for Barcelona in recent times. 

Barca have scored at least once in each of their last 32 La Liga home games (W27 D4 L1), scoring 2.9 on average, also winning the last 12 at Camp Nou in the competition.


Dismal

Adria Pedrosa

Yes, it’s been pretty bad for Celta fans so far this season.

They’ve earned just nine points from the first 12 matches in La Liga this season, their worst total at this stage since 1985/86 (seven points, assuming three per win).

Their horrendous run of form has seen them win just one of their last ten La Liga outings (W1 D3 L6), losing the last four and failing to score six times.

Ouch.


Time to Feast

Antoine Griezmann

It’s fair to say that Antoine Griezmann hasn’t exactly found it easy since arriving in Catalonia – largely being deployed on the left-wing by Valverde.

However, the Frenchman seems to love playing against Saturday’s opponents. Against no other side has Griezmann been involved in more goals than against Celta Vigo in La Liga (eight goals and five assists – level with Athletic Club).


Marksmen

Leo Messi

You can’t be enlightening your mates without including one of the best to play the game, if not the best.

While his record against any team he comes up against regularly would be incredible, Lionel Messi has particularly enjoyed playing against Celta in recent times – being directly involved in ten goals in his last six La Liga matches against them (five goals and five assists). 

For Celta, Liverpool legend Iago Aspas is the man they’ll be turning to if they’re in need of a bit of magic.

Aspas has been directly involved in eight goals in nine appearances against Barcelona in La Liga (six goals and two assists), but only in two of his five trips to Camp Nou (one goal, one assist).


Relieving Some Pressure?

Ernesto Valverde

Barcelona’s Ernesto Valverde has lost just one of his 17 managerial La Liga games against Celta Vigo (W11 D5 L1), though this defeat came in his last meeting (2-0 at Balaidos in May 2019).

Even if Barca win comfortably on Saturday, you feel that Valverde will have to do a lot more after the international break to see the pressure lifted off his shoulders. A win against Dortmund in their next group stage clash may help.


Newbie

Oscar Garcia

Saturday’s defeat to Getafe proved to be the final straw for Escriba as the club sacked him the following day.

Former BrightonWatford and Salzburg boss Óscar García was appointed as Celta’s new boss in the week and will take charge of his first La Liga match against Barca.

However, the last nine managers to make their managerial La Liga debut against Barcelona lost the game – the last manager to win such a match was Josip Skoblar with Real Valladolid in September 1989 (2-0).


Let’