With the return of their biggest boost for the season, Barcelona will open on Thursday, January 4, their participation in the round of 2017/2018 edition of the Spanish Cup. Current champion of the tournament will face Celta from 16h (Brasília time) at the Balaídos stadium in Vigo.
At this stage of the competition the settings are made in round-robin bouts. The second duel in Catalonia is scheduled for January 11. If necessary, the tiebreaker can be made by goal balance or a greater number of goals scored in the opponent’s field.
Celta’s recent performance

After losing three games without defeat (two defeats and a draw), the Vigo team managed to break their fast in the last game of 2017. On December 23, they took the best in the Galician classic against La Coruña. Scored 2 – 1 in the opponent’s stadium.
He managed to reach 21 points (six wins, three draws and eight losses). It is eleventh place. It is six points behind Villarreal, which closes the zone of classification for European tournaments.
Celta fans have in mind the club’s surprising performance in the last 16 of the King’s Cup last season when the team managed to eliminate the mighty Real Madrid.
To try to repeat the feat, coach Juan Carlos Unzue has all his cast at his disposal. After the stoppage for the holidays of Christmas and New Year the Celta does not have athletes suspended or bruised.

The current form of Barcelona

French striker Ousmane Dembéle (two matches in the 2017/2018 Spanish Cup without a goal) has been sidelined since September due to a muscle injury. The club’s biggest investment for the season, the former Borussia Dortmund player was hired to replace Neymar but had little time to show his qualities.
It remains to be seen how it will be used by coach Ernesto Valverde. At first, the 20-year-old was expected to form the offensive trio with Luis Suarez (14 games, 10 goals) and Lionel Messi (15 games, one goal). However, without him the Barcelona managed a greater balance concentrating more athletes of the field. This allowed the team to establish a long unbeaten series that began in late August and has 25 games, 20 wins and five draws. This allowed the team to advance to the Round of 16 of the King’s Cup after twice defeating Murcia in its debut; ensure the classification by anticipation and as the first placed of his group to the eighth finals of the Champions League and shoot the lead of the Spanish Championship. He accumulated 45 points (14 wins and three draws) out of 51 possible in LaLiga. They are nine more than Atletico Madrid, second place.
Who should follow from outside the team is the defender Samuel Umtiti (12 games, no goal). Also in the ward are the socks Gerard Deulofeu (nine games, one goal) and Arda Turan (without performances); and striker Paco Alcacer (eight games, two goals).

History of the matches Celta vs Barcelona
The teams had a recent encounter. On December 2, they played for the first round of the Spanish Championship. In Barcelona, ​​there was a 2-2 draw.

Having had a good period of rest after the many commitments of the first half of the season, reinforced by Dembelé and owner of a consistent tactical system, Barcelona is the best guessing option for the confrontation. The price is 1.55 in Rivalo. Draw returns 4.30. Success of home owners allows the multiplication of the investment by 5.50.