New look Barca secure Celta point
Ernesto Valverde made eight changes to his starting lineup ahead of a difficult match away at Celta Vigo, but Barca came out with their unbeaten record intact.
Celta battled hard after twice going behind, and indeed with time running out they could have won the game. Iago Aspas had tied it up minutes earlier with his fifth goal in as many games against the Catalan side.
Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez started on the bench, while Gerard Pique and Andres Iniesta did not travel with the team to Galicia. Valverde seemingly responding to criticism that he doesn’t rotate his team enough by rotating everybody at once ahead of the weekend’s Copa del Rey final.
Yerry Mina was given only his second start at the back along side the rarely-seen Thomas Vermaelen, and there was still room for Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Demeble up front. Indeed, Dembele will be pleased with his night’s work as he scored his first La Liga goal.
Celta lost the ball in their own half and Coutinho and Paco Alcacer combined to see the ball arrive at Dembele’s feet. The Frenchman wasted no time, volleying on his left foot with a first time shot the nestled in the far corner.
Celta gain a point that will be pretty inconsequential to them with neither relegation nor European qualification a real possibility. Barca will now turn all eyes to Madrid, where they face Sevilla at the Wanda for their first piece of silverware this season.