Celta Vigo vs Barcelona preview - Fontas targets unlikely double

Posted Saturday, April 04, 2015 by PA

Celta Vigo defender Andreu Fontas is optimistic his side can complete a Primera Division double over former club Barcelona this weekend.

Eduardo Berizzo's side secured an unexpected 1-0 triumph at the Nou Camp on November 1 in the sides' first meeting this season.

And the 25-year-old, who joined Celta from Barca in 2013 to link up with his former Barcelona B coach Luis Enrique, believes another upset could be on the cards at the Estadio de Balaidos if the mid-table hosts perform to their maximum.

"Anything could happen," he said on www.fcbarcelona.com. "We know that it is difficult and that we are up against top-quality opposition but also that we will have a chance if we can play like we did in the first half of the season.

"Also, we will have the support of our fans. The coach is convincing us that it's a great game to play in and if we play like we did at Camp Nou we will have a chance."

He added: "That victory was one of the best moments of the season, but then we went 10 games without a win. We went from the best to the worst.

"Things did not go our way. Even though we played well at times, results did not come. Now, we are back in form and we are in a more comfortable situation."

Barca head into the weekend four points clear of second-placed Real Madrid, but could see that gap cut to one point by the time they kick off in Vigo as Carlo Ancelotti's European champions face second-bottom Granada earlier on Sunday.

Lionel Messi is expected to be available, having missed Argentina's two recent friendlies in the United States due to a foot injury sustained against Manchester City.

"Back in Barcelona," he posted on Facebook on Thursday evening, before training with the Barca squad on Friday. "The Tour in US was sweet and sour for me. We got 2 wins with a great job from everyone, but I couldn't play because of my swollen foot. It still hurts a bit, but I hope to recover soon so I can help the National team and FC Barcelona."

Barca coach Luis Enrique welcomed back Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets, Pedro Rodriguez and Andres Iniesta to squad training on Friday having returned unscathed from international duty with Spain, but Jordi Alba was absent after sustaining a hamstring injury in last week's Euro 2016 qualifier against Ukraine.

Goalkeeper Claudio Bravo acknowledged that Barca were all too aware of Celta's capabilities after their surprise win five months ago.

"The fact that they won at Camp Nou makes us look at it from another point of view," he said. "We have to be vigilant against Celta, but above all we must rely on our own play.

"We know that every game we play in the league can affect the standings and this Sunday we have a difficult opponent," Bravo said at a pre-match press conference, quoted on club website www.fcbarcelona.com.

Chile international Bravo knows Eduardo Berizzo - who took over as Celta coach last May when Luis Enrique departed for Barca - from Berizzo's spell on the national team's coaching staff, and reckons his "very dedicated and methodical" style is reflected in Celta's play.

"He likes to control the ball," Bravo said of his countryman. "When they don't have possession, they're aggressive in getting it back."