Lewandowski Sparks Barca’s Attack as Flick Faces La Liga Test against Celta Vigo

Match Preview

Barcelona head coach Hans Flick named his starting XI for the La Liga clash at Balaídos against Celta Vigo, in round 12. He opted to rest several stars, including Ferran Torres, Jules Koundé and Dani Olmo, sending them to the bench. The attack was built around Robert Lewandowski, with Lamine Yamal and Marcus Rashford providing pace and invention.

With Koundé still dealing with discomfort from the previous match and not training fully in the days leading up to the trip, Flick kept him in the squad with plans for limited minutes depending on his condition. To cover potential issues, academy prospect Chavi Espart was called up.

The article notes that Espart joins a group of academy players supplementing the squad as the season progresses. Barca’s plan emphasized defensive compactness and quick transitions to trouble the visitors, aiming to secure three points away from home.

Celta Vigo’s lineup featured a mix of experience and youth, with the match scheduled to kick off in the evening as La Liga’s action rolls on. The encounter represented a chance for Vigo to test Barca’s defense and for Flick’s men to reassert their attacking capabilities.

Flick spoke about the injuries plaguing his squad, stressing that the title race in La Liga remains long and that Barca will fight until May. He praised Sela Vigo’s current momentum while noting that form will hinge on the approach taken at kick-off and the necessity of collecting three points.

On leadership and confidence at the club, Flick highlighted the continued support from club president Laporta and the importance of belief within the group. He also mentioned that the team must be more cohesive defensively and in attack, a theme he said they discussed and planned to implement against Vigo.

When asked about comparisons with his Bayern Munich days, Flick cautioned against drawing direct parallels, emphasizing that injuries have forced Barca to adapt rather than dwell on history. He conceded that Barca would have liked more points but felt the team had earned a point in the previous clash with Bruges and remains five points off Real Madrid in the league standings.

Flick stressed that the campaign remains very much open and that the squad must keep working through injuries to midfield and other departments. He also provided an update on defensive lineup possibilities, noting that Eric Garcia is fit to play with a protective mask, while Jules Koundé’s participation remained in doubt ahead of the Vigo game. No fresh winter signings were announced by the club, with the focus still on the long-term project and summer plans for 2026.

The article concludes with Barca preparing for their Balaídos trip, a key fixture in the title race as the season continues to unfold.

Punchline 1: If football were a sniper’s field, Barca would still hit the target—just sometimes the target is a corner flag. Punchline 2: In Flick’s playbook, patience is a weapon, and apparently so is a well-timed burst of Yamal magic when the clock is ticking.