Barça has had a bittersweet week, but with a happy ending. The team played two matches in which it did not perform at its best, but managed to maintain its lead in LaLiga and, most importantly, reach the Champions League semifinals despite losing the battle in Almenia against Borussia Dortmund.
The defeat ended Barça’s unbeaten run in 2025, bringing to an end a streak of 24 consecutive games without defeat, with 20 wins and four draws. It was a spectacular run that made them firm contenders for the treble, with hopes that the game against Dortmund would be just a blip in an otherwise perfect record.
Despite the defeat and the poor performance, Barça are in the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in six years. Barça’s place in the tie was never in danger after their convincing 4-0 win in the first leg. Already in the semi-finals, they learned who their opponents would be the following day. Barça will face Inter Milan in the Champions League semi-finals.
In La Liga, Barça picked up another win to consolidate their lead, seven points ahead of Real Madrid, depending on what the Whites do this afternoon against Deportivo Alavés. Hansi Flick’s side knew how to suffer and drew on the luck of champions to make it 24 games unbeaten so far this year, with 20 wins and four draws.
An own goal by Jorge Sáenz at the start of the second half allowed Barça to emerge triumphant on Saturday from a difficult visit to Butarque against a Leganés side that once again showed the great form it always displays when facing a title contender.
Celta, meanwhile, are dreaming of playing in Europe next season. They are currently seventh with 43 points, level on points with Mallorca and five points behind Betis. If they finish the season in their current position, they are almost certain to qualify for European competition.
Flick will not want big changes
After the rotations made in the Champions League, Hansi Flick is not expected to take any risks in the two La Liga games coming up in a few days, although he also has his mind set on the Copa del Rey final. For this reason, important players such as Dani Olmo, who has just returned from injury, will surely be given limited minutes to ensure they are in the best possible shape for the big game. Beyond that, Alejandro Balde will be out for a couple of weeks due to injury, adding to the already known absences of Marc-André ter Stegen, Marc Bernal, and Marc Casadó, all of whom are out with physical problems.
Possible Barça XI
Goalkeeper: Szczesny
Defenders: Jules Koundé, Pau Cubarsí, Iñigo Martínez, and Gerard Martín
Midfielders: Pedri, De Jong, and Fermín
Forwards: Raphinha, Lamine Yamal, and Ferran Torres
Giráldez with some absences
The sky blue team, under Claudio Giráldez, will be without Carl Starfelt, who will be out for one or two weeks with a strain. In addition, Jones El-Abdellaoui, who is registered with the reserve team, will also be out for several weeks. The fitness of Jailson, who trained on a limited basis on Thursday, is also uncertain.
Possible Celta XI
Goalkeeper: Vicente Guaita
Defenders: Sergio Carreira, Javi Rodríguez, Jailson, Marcos Alonso, and Óscar Mingueza
Midfielders: Ilaix Moriba, Fer Beltrán
Forwards: Alfon, Iago Aspas, and Pablo Durán