Predicted Barcelona lineup against Celta Vigo

Ahead of their 12th league game of the season, Barcelona hover just above the bottom half of the table. The Catalans have suffered this season, with the losses against Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano denting the club’s race for the top four.

Sitting nine points behind league leaders Real Sociedad, it will be an uphill task to secure Champions League qualification but is still certainly possible.

Xavi Hernandez will likely return to Barcelona as the new manager, but it will still be Sergi Barjuan who leads the troops into Saturday’s clash. Xavi is expected to view the game from the stands before he officially takes over later this week, but how will Barjuan line Barça up for this game?

Defence

Marc-Andre ter Stegen put up an improved display midweek. The German helped his side secure the narrow win courtesy of three saves from inside the box. His distribution too was on point with barely any loose passes. He will look to keep a second successive clean sheet on Saturday.

Gerard Pique continues to be unavailable for selection owing to the injury he picked up against Rayo Vallecano. And Clement Lenglet seems to have picked up a sight knock against Dynamo Kyiv. As such, Ronald Araujo could be given his first Barça start in over a month on the weekend.

Eric Garcia has shown more mental maturity and physical resilience over the past two games. In Pique’s absence, he took charge of the defence in the UCL. He will be a vital part of Barcelona’s fortress.

Oscar Mingueza was arguably the best player against Dynamo Kyiv, putting in an excellent shift. The La Masia was key in Barça’s goal, creating the chance finished off by Ansu Fati, and will continue in the right-back role.

Jordi Alba has been unusually quiet for Barcelona this season. His involvement in the play has been comparable to the previous season, but the output has been subpar. The Spanish full-back has struggled to pick out the right crosses at the opportune moment. He will look to make his resurgence known on Saturday.

Midfield

Sergio Busquets will once again lead the team from the middle of the park. He was defensively magnificent midweek and will have to conjure more of the same against tricky opposition.

Frenkie de Jong started the game against Dynamo Kyiv despite not being at his fittest. The result was visible, with the Dutchman being below par on several aspects on the night. Much has been made of de Jong’s struggles this season. It will be in his best interest to put up a midfield masterclass ahead of Xavi’s appointment.

Nico has been Barcelona’s latest headline maker. The young Spaniard’s ability on the ball combined with his physicality makes him invaluable to the manager. He is expected to be called up to Luis Enrique’s Spain team later in the day and will round off Barcelona’s midfield trident.

Forward

Despite constantly being on the end of subpar showings, Philippe Coutinho is likely to get the nod ahead of Yusuf Demir in the attack as the no. 10 behind two centre-forwards.

Memphis Depay was brilliant against Dynamo Kyiv in terms of creating openings. The Dutch forward lacked the cutting edge in front of goal but was key to the buildup. He conjured five key passes on the night, a statistic very few in the world can boast of matching. He will start on the night.

Depay will likely be partnered with Ansu Fati. Even though he is far from fit to be starting two games in a row, Barjuan will have to risk the Spaniard given the lack of personnel in the attack. An impressive first-half could mean Ansu gets time on the bench in the next 45.

Memphis · Ansu
Coutinho
de Jong · Busquets · Nico
Alba · Eric · Araujo · Mingueza
ter Stegen

SUBSTITUTIONS

Yusuf Demir has not been given enough minutes this season but several injuries in the forward line could push him off the substitutes bench.

Similarly, Luuk de Jong and Barcelona B winger Abde could be called on in the event that the team needs extra offensive zing, which at this point, is all too predictable.

Riqui Puig could get a few minutes under his belt as he prepares to make a good impression on the new coach who may be in the stands.