Gavi Set for Return as Starter in Celta vs. Barcelona Match

In the lead-up to the Celta-Barça match, Hansi Flick, the head coach of FC Barcelona, announced that Gavi is ready to start for the team. Although the German coach confirmed the young midfielder’s inclusion in the starting lineup, he did not specify which position Gavi would occupy, leaving room for speculation on the team’s configuration.

The potential lineup for Barcelona features Iñaki Peña; Koundé, Cubarsí, Íñigo Martínez, Gerard Martín; Casadó, Pedri; Raphinha, Gavi, Olmo; and Lewandowski. On the bench are players including Balde, Pablo Torre, Fermín, Pau Víctor, and De Jong. An alternative could see Gavi taking a deeper role in a double pivot with Pedri moving into an advanced midfield position.

Gavi’s last appearance as a starter occurred over a year ago on November 7, 2023, during a Champions League match against Shakhtar, before suffering a significant injury while on international duty with the Spanish national team. His previous LaLiga match was against Real Sociedad on November 4, 2023.

Defensively, Barcelona is expected to maintain a familiar setup that has proven effective in managing the offside trap. Jules Koundé has solidified his role as right back, and the partnership of Cubarsí and Íñigo Martínez in central defense is well understood, with Gerard Martín in a reliable position on the left flank.

The midfield sees changes with Gavi’s return. While Casadó and Pedri hold the midfield, Olmo appears set to take the left side of the attack. The absence of Lamine Yamal has led Flick to shift his forward tactics, positioning Raphinha on one wing and Olmo on the opposite, while Lewandowski, recovering from recent back issues, leads the attack.

On the other side, Celta de Vigo’s lineup includes Guaita; Mingueza, Javi Rodriguez, Starfelt, Marcos Alonso, Hugo Álvarez; Moriba, Fran Beltrán; and forwards Iago Aspas, Douvikas, and Bamba.