The Montjuic stadium is a talisman for a Barcelona that has won everything in its temporary home while renovating the Camp Nou. But it is also true for Rafa Benítez who, on that Barcelona Olympic mountain, avoided his dismissal as coach of Valencia after overcoming a 2-0 loss against Espanyol. Twenty-one years after that feat, the Madrid coach returns to the same stage today (6:30 p.m., Movistar LaLiga) with a Celta struggling in the standings (sixteenth), who has put aside his inability to score points in Balaídos as a visitor. The four that the Celtics have now accumulated came with the draw in San Sebastián and the victory in Almería. And the Vigo team relies on that good behavior away from home to try to spoil Xavi Hernández’s happy week after his team beat Betis and Antwerp (both conceded five goals) and renewed his contract until June 2025. In the last duel between the two, Celta won thanks to Gabri Veiga’s double, which also meant guaranteeing permanence in the top category.
Almost three months after that meeting in Balaídos, the Catalans and the Light Blues coincide again with different dynamics: the Catalans are enjoying their best version since the arrival of Xavi, while the Galicians are trying to reflect their good play on the scoreboard. Twelve goals in favor of Barça compared to four for Celta, who are still waiting for their star, Iago Aspas, to once and for all break the scoring drought that he has been dragging on since March 18. That day, he scored one of the winning goals against Espanyol in Cornellá. The Moañés returns to Catalan lands to face one of his favorite rivals, against whom he scored a dozen goals.
For the visit to Barcelona, Benítez moves 23 footballers. Only Franco Cervi has remained in Vigo, who faces the final stretch of recovery from the muscle injury he suffered against Real Madrid. Xavi, for his part, recovers Ronald Araújo, one of the best defenders in the championship.
Despite the last setback against Mallorca (0-1), Benítez trusts in the same tactical design that he implemented in the middle of the first half of the visit to Anoeta. Unai Núñez, Carl Starfelf and Carlos Domínguez have consolidated themselves in the line of three centre-backs, although it is not ruled out that Joseph Aidoo will return at any time. The right lane is for Mingueza who has become a fundamental piece due to his contribution in attack. Iván Villar is also safe in goal. The left back has passed into the hands of Mihailo Ristic, who replaced Manu Sánchez on the bench despite the Madrid native’s good performances against Almería, against whom he added his first goal assist.
The double pivot has been in recent days for Beltrán and Luca de la Torre, who make up for their lack of physical power with kilometers traveled. Jonathan Bamba, Strand Larsen and Aspas have consolidated themselves in attack. At any time, Benítez will bet on the entry of Tasos Douvikas and Carles Pérez who has already recovered from the muscle injury that deprived him of the starting role he had at the start of the championship. So, Celta played me with a 4-4-2. With the 5-3-2, it is complicated for the Catalan to enter the starting eleven of a Celta team that this afternoon will try to maintain the good streak that as a visitor led them to add the four points they now have in the standings.
Barcelona has gained potential with the arrival of the Joâo: Félix and Cancelo, who have even made their debut as scorers. The attacker on loan from Atlético de Madrid appears as a very serious threat on the left side of the Barça attack, in addition to showing a great connection with Lewandowski. On the right side, in addition to Cancelo’s depth, Xavi’s team has one of the biggest revelations in international football in recent years: the young Lamine Yamal, who breaks records for precocity at 16 years old and is looking for his first goal in the league.
Celta has only won on three occasions away from home in LaLiga against Barcelona, who last year could only break the tie with a goal from the now injured Pedri.
2023-09-23 04:10:15
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