Barcelona vs Celta Vigo: TV channel, stream, kick-off time, odds & Copa del Rey preview
Ernesto Valverde’s men have struggled to beat the Galicians this season, but they will be full of confidence, particularly given recent developments
Defending champions Barcelona will hope to join Real Madrid in the quarter-final of the Copa del Rey when they face Celta Vigo at Camp Nou on Thursday evening.
The Blaugrana played out a 1-1 draw against Celta in the first leg of their last-16 tie last week and they will be determined to go one better in order this evening to ensure their place in the last eight of the competition.
While they are languishing at the wrong end of the Liga table, Celta are riding the crest of a wave at the moment, having drawn with both Barca and Real Madrid in their last two games, so they will be full of confidence heading to Catalunya.
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TV CHANNEL & LIVE STREAM
The game is not being shown live on television in the United Kingdom, but Goal will be providing updates here.
In the United States (US), the game can be watched live and on-demand with fuboTV (7-day free trial).
New users can sign up for a free seven-day trial of the live sports streaming service, which can be accessed via iOS, Android, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and Apple TV as well as on a web browser.
SQUADS & TEAM NEWS
Ernesto Valverde has named a 19-man squad for the game against Celta Vigo. Samuel Umtiti is still out injured, while Paco Alcacer is recovering from a hamstring injury.
There is no place for new signing Philippe Coutinho, who is nursing a thigh injury, but Jose Arnaiz, who scored in the first leg, is included. Sergio Busquets is also available, but Arda Turan has been training separately from the squad as speculation surrounding his future escalates.
Potential Barcelona starting XI: Cillessen; Semedo, Pique, Vermaelen, Digne; Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta; Dembele, Suarez, Messi.
Celta have named a 21-man panel for the game against Barca and head coach Juan Carlos Unzue has a full complement to select from, including youth-team player Brais Mendez
Pione Sisto, who bagged the crucial equaliser last week, is available and he will be partnered in attack by two of Iago Aspas, Emre Mor or Maximiliano Gomez.
Potential Celta Vigo starting XI: Sergio; Mallo, Fontas, Gomez, Jonny; Wass, Jozabed, Lobotka; Sisto, Aspas, M. Gomez.
BETTING & MATCH ODDS
Barcelona are heavy favourites to win at 1/8 according to dabblebet, with Celta Vigo rated 18/1. A draw between the teams is considered a 15/2 bet.
Click here to see all of dabblebet’s offers for the game, including goalscoring markets, correct score predictions and more.
GAME PREVIEW
Barcelona are unbeaten in all competitions since last August – a run of 27 matches – and they have shown no signs of slowing down as they seek to restore their dominance of Spanish football and challenge for continental honours.
However, it is interesting to note that, of all the teams they have faced this term, Celta have proven to be a difficult opponent, forcing draws in both meetings between the teams. As well as keeping the tie alive last week, the Galicians snatched a 2-2 draw at Camp Nou in December, so Barca are more than aware of their capabilities.
Indeed, in a testament to how well regarded Celta are by Valverde, the Blaugrana boss has named a formidable panel for the clash, despite the fact that they have a league clash against Real Sociedad to come three days later.
Nevertheless, Barca have been in buoyant form and the atmosphere at the club has been significantly boosted by both the capture of Philippe Coutinho from Liverpool in a record €160 million move and the return to full fitness of €105m man Ousmane Dembele.
Celta will hope to be the team that will burst their bubble, but, given how well things are going for them, it is even more difficult to see the Catalans capitulating now.