• Five absences hit Flick’s squad, Rashford memory ignites the clash

Attention turns Sunday evening to Balaídos Stadium, where Barcelona visits Celta Vigo in the 12th round of the 2025-2026 La Liga season, in a clash that carries special significance for the Catalan team seeking to regain stability after a series of inconsistent results in recent weeks

Impactful Absences Threaten Barcelona German coach Hans Flick announced Barcelona’s official squad for the encounter, which saw five key players sidelined due to injuries:

• Marc-André ter Stegen
• Juan García
• Pablo Gavi
• Raphinha
• Pedri

These absences left Flick with limited options, especially in midfield and attack, making the task more challenging against a Celta Vigo side that has been performing increasingly well recently

The squad also included several young faces alongside stars such as Robert Lewandowski, Ferran Torres, Lamine Yamal, and Marcus Rashford, who is in his first season on loan from Manchester United and has scored six goals in 15 matches across all competitions

Rashford Memories Haunt Celta VigoBefore kickoff, Celta Vigo president Marian Moreno drew attention by recalling a special memory with Rashford from 2017, when the English forward scored the winning goal for Manchester United against Celta Vigo in the Europa League semi-final at Balaídos

Moreno told Mundo Deportivo:I still keep Rashford’s signed shirt from that painful night, even though he eliminated us from the semifinals Moreno is currently the only female president in La Liga, having taken over in 2023 from her father Carlos Moreno, and is widely respected in Spanish football

Barcelona Under Pressure and Ambition Barcelona enters the match in second place in La Liga with 25 points, five behind leaders Real Madrid, after eight wins, one draw, and two losses.

The Catalan team has struggled in recent weeks, losing 1-2 to Real Madrid in El Clásico and drawing 3-3 against Club Brugge in the Champions League, a match marked by defensive errors

Flick said in a press conference: The task isn’t easy, but the team has the quality and character to overcome this phase. Absences won’t be an excuse He added: Celta is organized and fierce at home, so we must play with high focus and impose our style from the start

Celta Vigo: Confidence and MomentumCelta Vigo has enjoyed a strong period, winning two consecutive league matches and a 3-0 European victory over Dinamo Zagreb

The team sits 10th with 13 points from two wins, seven draws, and two losses, scoring 13 goals and conceding 14. Argentine coach Carlos Martínez hopes to leverage strong home support to achieve another surprise against one of La Liga’s top teams

Martínez said: “Barcelona is a big team, but we have the courage to compete. Winning at home will give us a strong boost for the rest of the season.”

Head-to-Head Stats According to Transfermarkt, the teams have met 134 times officially: Barcelona has 74 wins, Celta Vigo 28, and 32 draws. Barcelona players have scored 294 goals, while Celta scored 158, with former Argentine star Lionel Messi as the top scorer in these encounters with 14 goals

Match Details Stadium: Balaídos – Vigo Date: Sunday, November 9, 2025 Time: 11:00 PM Amman time TV: beIN Sports HD 1

Expected Match ScenarioBarcelona is expected to adopt a cautious attacking approach, relying on Rashford and Lewandowski upfront, while Celta Vigo will try to absorb pressure and rely on wing counterattacks

The outcome will be crucial for Barcelona’s morale before the international break, as any new setback could increase pressure on Flick amid growing demands for the team to return to its usual strong form