For it was the Galicians that took the Catalans back to school at the start of the season, Nolito and co. full value for their 4-1 win.
That performance should have been played back to the Barcelona players in the lead up to this game to serve as a stark reminder that no matter who you are, you will be punished if your performances are substandard.
After a brief stay at the top of La Liga, Celta have begun to fall away to the extent they're now down in seventh position and some 19 points behind Sunday's opponents at the summit.
Barca's rise to the top has been due in no small part to a record-breaking 29-match unbeaten run.
Indeed, only Sevilla have beaten the Catalans since Barca visited Balaidos back in September, the defeat at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan coming just 10 days later.
It's that kind of consistency Celta have been lacking that has propelled the Blaugrana to their third Copa del Rey final in a row and to the top of the league.
At present, yet another league title—which would be their sixth in the last eight seasons—is Barca's to lose.
Their task against Celta is made a little easier by the amount of players who are suspended for Eduardo Berizzo's side.
Per betinf.com, Sergi Gomez and three of Celta's front four in Theo Bongonda, Iago Aspas and Fabian Orellana are all unavailable. Nolito is struggling to make the game against his old side too, per Juan Manuel Diaz of Sport.
Arda Turan is fit again for the hosts, and Lionel Messi is definitely back, according to Albert Masnou of Sport:
Messi entered the Dexeus Clinic in Barcelona in perfect conditions and without any problems and everything went to plan.
It all points to him being fine to play on Sunday. 'If he played in the Club World Cup final in those circumstances, imagine how he will be against Celta, with several days to recover,' a source at the club said.
Despite the Catalans being heavy favourites to continue their excellent form, Luis Enrique was still considered in his pre-match press conference, per Barcelona's official site:
They are a dangerous opponent: bold, brave, dominating all facets of the game and are attractive to watch.
We know that they have a long injury list...but their style of play remains the same. They love to keep the ball and I think they can make life difficult for us.
They play with intensity, leave little space [for the opponent] and move the ball quickly. They are good both in attack and defence.
Last year we were far superior, but due to the woodwork and their goalkeeper we were unable to score. In contrast, in this season’s meeting, they were clearly better and deserved to win.
If Celta still retain hopes of qualifying for Europe, they'll need to replicate their last performance at the Camp Nou—a 1-0 victory in November 2014—and take at least a point from this match.
Date: Sunday, February 14
Time: 7.30 p.m. GMT/2.30 p.m. ET
Venue: The Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain
TV Info: Sky Sports 1, Sky Sports 1 HD (UK only)/beIN Espanyol (U.S. only)
Form Lines
Predicted Formations
Every game is a must-win for Enrique and his troops, and as such, we can expect to see the strongest possible Barca squad start this match in the usual 4-3-3 formation.
The visitors are likely to begin with a 4-2-3-1, giving them enough cover in defence when needed but also enough support for John Guidetti in attack.
Josep Sene, Claudio Beauvue and Dejan Drazic will all take their place in an unusual front four rather than warming the bench, as has been customary for the trio this season.
The quality of their deliveries and support for the Swede, up against the likes of Jordi Alba, Javier Mascherano, Gerard Pique and Dani Alves, will be pivotal in deciding the outcome of this match.
Even if the high-pressing game on show in the earlier meeting this season between the two sides is again employed, the Galicians have an in-form Claudio Bravo to beat.
Marcelo Diaz and Pablo Hernandez have the unenviable task of containing the happy feet of Andres Iniesta and Arda Turan, who will look to play those short, incisive passes into the front three of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.
At least Celta have something resembling a first-choice back line.
Although Sergi Gomez's absence will hit them hard—the ex-Barcelona B man was the man of the match back in September—Hugo Mallo enjoys these sorts of encounters.
The centre-back will grab defensive colleagues Daniel Wass, Gustavo Cabral and another ex-Blaugrana in Carles Planas by the scruff of the neck to ensure they're competitive.
Goalkeeper Sergio Alvarez completes the lineup.
Player to Watch
In the absence of virtually the entire first-choice front line from this match, Guidetti will carry Celta's hopes on his shoulders.
The Swede showed recently against Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderon that he knows where the goal is, and he'll be left alone by Barca's defence at their peril.
If the hosts play their normal high line, the likelihood of Guidetti hanging on the shoulder of the last defender, ready for the ball in behind, is high.
Although Route 1 isn't necessarily an option the visitors will want to employ, it is one of many choices open to them and one that was utilised correctly in the first game between the sides.
It certainly asked serious questions of Barca's ability to defend balls in behind their back four.
A mobile and tenacious player, Guidetti will want to ease Gerard Pique and Javier Mascherano out of position to allow colleagues to feed the ball into the passing lanes that will open up as a result.
It could be a lonely furrow that's ploughed for much of the game, but the 23-year-old can be relied upon to give his all for the entirety of the time he's on the pitch.
Key Battle
Mallo does love his tussles with Neymar, and it's clear from recent games the pair will continue their fiery relationship here.
Whether it's the Brazilian's penchant for the spectacular that gets up Mallo's nose is unclear, but the defender certainly lets Barca's brilliant wide man know he's about.
Mallo will need to be careful here, of course. Neymar is in the form of his life, and when he's running at pace, he is hugely difficult to stop unless by foul means.
With so many first-team players already out through suspension, Berizzo could do without adding another to the list.
The defender is better served by keeping enough distance between himself and Neymar so as not to be beaten by a decent first touch but to be close enough as to affect the next stage of any move by disrupting Neymar's foray toward goal.
If he's touch tight, Neymar will revel in the opportunity of getting his marker booked early. Too far apart, the Brazilian will just knock it past him and accelerate into the space.
On form alone, this will be Mallo's toughest assignment of the season. We'll see if he's up to the test come full time.
Barcelona: 1069-100
Celta Vigo: 50-357
Draw: 15-2
