Barca aim to keep pressure on Celta

Madrid - FC Barcelona have another chance to make Real Madrid suffer for a short while at least when they entertain Celta Vigo on Saturday night.

Barca know that a win, which would be their ninth in 10 games, against the side that returned to the Primera Liga this season would put them 11 points ahead of Real Madrid, who kick off their game against Zaragoza just after Barca should have finished theirs, reports Xinhua.

Obviously the three points would make it imperative for Madrid to win their game in order to avoid seeing the league title disappear into the distance.

Barca coach Tito Vilanova will still be without central defenders Carlos Puyol and Gerard Pique for the game. Puyol should be fit for the trip to Mallorca next weekend, while Pique has begun training with the first team squad after almost six weeks out with a twisted ankle.

Vilanova will have one eye on his side’s Champions League trip to Glasgow in midweek, where a win will assure a place in the last 16 of the competition.

With Sergio Busquets suspended in Europe, he will certainly play in central midfield, while Xavi Hernandez will probably partner him along with Cesc Fabregas, who is in his best form since arriving at the club.

As usual Lionel Messi will lead the attack, while Pedro Rodriguez will be partnered by either Christian Tello or David Villa in the other attacking roles.

Celta travel after a Cup disappointment away to second division Almeria. They have lost all four away games in the Primera Liga this season.

Paco Herrera favours an attacking style of play and if he remains true to that at the Camp Nou, we should see plenty of goals.