Three talking points ahead of Celta Vigo vs Barcelona | La Liga MD12 | OneFootball

With the international break just around the corner, it is safe to say that the offices in Barcelona are just waiting to get done with the one game that remains to enter the comfort of the hiatus.

Injuries, after all, have not been kind to them in any capacity and the international break will bring star players two weeks closer to a return without affecting the club’s campaign in any capacity.

The likes of Raphinha and Joan Garcia may well return as starters after the break, while Pedri will also move closer to a complete return after the two weeks.

The game against Celta Vigo, thus, may well be one of Barcelona’s last games in the current crisis state.

Barcelona have won only one of their last four games away at Balaidos.

Further, they have just two wins in their last eleven games at a venue – a sign of how complicated a fortress it is to win at.

Barça Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Celta Vigo vs Barcelona.

A complicated right-back situation

Jules Kounde could miss the Celta Vigo match. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

Jules Kounde and Eric Garcia have been Hansi Flick’s preferred options at right-back this season, and the latter’s eventual shift to centre-back saw the Frenchman take over as the de facto starter in the department.

While Kounde has been relatively distracted and distant from his best, he has done decently to provide cover on the flank.

However, the player did not complete training earlier today and is a doubt to make it to the squad.

Garcia, thus, presents himself to be the manager’s best bet to start at right-back. However, the Spaniard too suffered a gruesome injury against Club Brugge when he broke his nose and will thus be available only playing with a mask.

Given that the blow is recent, moreover, starting Garcia on the night may not be a great choice and the player is not used to playing with the protection and the challenges that come with it.

Looking at Barcelona’s situation, however, the manager has simply no option but to start Garcia at right-back. 

Even then, he faces a complicated situation as he will have to start Ronald Araujo alongside Pau Cubarsi on the night, a combination that has not exactly flourished this season.

A frightening attack to hold

Celta Vigo’s attack has been frightening. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

Celta Vigo, over the years, have always been a difficult opponent for Barcelona, given their ruthless and well-timed counter-attacks which are often incisive enough to take the Catalan defence apart.

Something about their attacking lineup ahead of tomorrow’s clash, however, feels more frightening than ever before, given the names in their ranks and the recent record of Barcelona’s defence.

For starters, the Galicians boast of Iago Aspas, Borja Iglesias, and Bryan Zaragoza in their ranks – three players who boast of extremely threatening profiles for the Blaugrana.

Aspas, over the years, has scored a staggering 11 goals against Barcelona in 21 games and has stuck many daggers in the Catalans’ plans in the past. Iglesias, meanwhile, is a ruthless and physical striker while Zarazoga brings pace and dynamism.

The combination of the three players, thus, strikes terror in Catalonia at a time when Barcelona’s defence seems easy to open for any team in the world. Needless to say, tomorrow’s game could get ugly if the defence does not step up.

Is it Lewandowski’s night?

Hansi Flick made it clear early on in the season that Robert Lewandowski would not have it easy to start this campaign for Barcelona with Ferran Torres emerging as a strong competitor.

Will Lewandowski start against Celta? (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

So far this season, the Spaniard has indeed replaced the Polish star as the team’s de facto starter in the department. While his form has helped him hold on, Lewandowski’s injuries have also aided in the same.

At this point in the season, however, one wonders if it is time for the manager to begin counting on Lewandowski as a starter in games that suit his profile – thus furthering the idea of a continuous rotation.

Celta Vigo, in that regard, could be the ideal opposition.

The Polish striker has scored five goals against the Galicians in six games and boasts of a great record against them – something that may prompt Flick to hand Lewandowski a rare start tomorrow night.

For the Polish star, it will be crucial that he steps up and shows his class to earn a more regular role in the dynamics once more.

After all, he will be critical to the team’s title hopes as the season progresses and other events enter the fray.