There's only one story in town in Barcelona... but they also have a football match to play this evening!
While Philippe Coutinho continues to dominate column inches in Catalunya and Merseyside alike, Ernesto Valverde takes his side to Celta Vigo to play the first leg of their last 16 Copa Del Rey tie.
Barca are bidding for their fourth successive title having won the Spanish Cup in each of the last three seasons.
They have enjoyed a brilliant season so far, sitting top of La Liga having won 14 and drawn three of their opening 17 fixtures, including beating Clasico rivals Real Madrid.
Follow all the action LIVE here.
Barcelona: Cillessen, Semedo, Piqué, Vermaelen, Digne, Paulinho, Busquets, Gomes, Vidal, Arnaiz, Denis
Celta Vigo: Sergio, Mallo, Fontás, Sergi Gómez, Jonny, Lobotka, Wass, Jozabed, Sisto, Maxi Gómez, Iago Aspas
Player ratings
Barcelona were held by Celta Vigo in the first-leg of their Copa del Rey last-16 clash.
Ernesto Valverde rang the changes for the clash and opened the scoring in the 15th minute when Andre Gomes forced his way down the left and fired in a low cross which Jose Arnaiz slotted home.
Pione Sisto levelled the scores for the hosts before Ousmane Dembele made his long-awaited return from injury.
Some of Barca’s fringe players impressed - while others wasted their chance to shine.
Here are Rik Sharma’s player ratings.
Five talking points
Ousmane Dembele made his long-awaited return from injury as Celta Vigo held Barcelona to a draw at Balaidos in the first leg of the Copa del Rey last 16 tie, leaving all to play for at Camp Nou next week.
Jose Arnaiz struck for Barcelona with Pione Sisto equalising, while the French winger made his long awaited return from injury as a second half substitute.
Barcelona opened the scoring in the 15th minute when Andre Gomes forced his way down the left and fired in a low cross which Arnaiz slotted home.
However Celta levelled when Maxi Gomez’s cross was nudged onto the bar by Aspas, with Sisto following up by lashing the ball into the roof of the net past the helpless Jasper Cillessen.
Sergio Busquets hit the bar in the second half and Denis Suarez missed a sitter from close range as Barcelona looked to take a lead back to Camp Nou for next week’s second leg.
Here are the five key talking points from the game…
Peeeeeep! All over - 1-1
Sergi Roberto goes close in stoppage time - turning Digne’s cross on to the outside of the post from an impossible angle.
But it stays 1-1 and that’s how it finishes.
Entertaining 90 minutes and probably a fair result.
Expect to see more of Barcelona’s stars in the return leg at the Nou Camp.
Chances at either end
Dembele goes close with his first touch, forcing a decent save at the near post.
Then Celta go up the other end and Maxi Gomez’s effort is blocked by Digne.
Five mins plus stoppages to go.
Mor fires wide!
Great chance for Celta!
Mor is played in on the inside left channel but his strike flashes across the face of goal and marginally wide of the post.
So close.
Here comes Dembele!
A first appearance for three and a half months for Ousmane Dembele.
He and Ivan Rakitic replace Paulinho and goalscorer Jose Arnaiz.
A crowd of 21,338 inside the ground.
Busquets rattles the crossbar!
Great strike from Busquets.
Vidal picks him out on the edge of the area and, from 25 yards, Busquets rattles the crossbar.
Denis Suarez should have put Barca in front moments earlier but he shanked his finish horribly.
Just over an hour gone.
So close!
Arnaiz could have a hat-trick.
He’s unlucky, here.
Great work from Digne on the right, he whips the cross in to the back stick and Arnaiz stoops to get his head to it, but it goes just wide.
Chance! Arnaiz
Chance for Barca to hit the front.
Suarez (not that one) slides it through for Arnaiz but his shot is stopped by Sergio at close range.
Still 1-1 seven minutes into the second period.
PEEP! Underway in the second half
We are back underway in Vigo.
Will be interesting to see how Barca approach this second half with the game level, knowing they have a home leg to come.
Remember, no Lionel Messi or Luis Suarez tonight.
PEEEEEP!
1-1 at the break.
Arnaiz had fired Barcelona ahead but Sisto’s brilliant leveller restored parity.
Entertaining 45 minutes.
5 mins to the break
Wass the latest to go close for Celta, his 30-yard effort just goes wide.
The hosts enjoying most of the play since taking the lead, but Barca still look a danger on the counter attack, with Paulinho dragging wide of the post via a deflection.
Five mins to the break.
GOAL! Celta Vigo 1-1 Barcelona (Sisto)
What a strike! Celta are level!
A crazy few seconds of football ends with Sisto hammering into the roof of the net from a tight angle.
Aspas had hit the bar just moments before and, as the ball came down, it struck Cillessen and landed at the feet of Sisto who smashed home.
1-1!
Barca on top
Barcelona have begun to assert their authority since the goal.
Arnaiz made a smart run through the middle as Paulinho broke away but the Brazilian’s ball was wayward.
Decent game, this, both sides looking like they could find the net.
Still 1-0 with 20 minutes to the break.
GOAL! Celta Vigo 0-1 Barcelona (Arnaiz)
Arnaiz fires Barcelona ahead!
Brilliant work from Andre Gomes who has probably been the best player on the park so far.
Effective counter attack from Barca with Gomes breaking down the left, he plays the ball across the box and Arnaiz is on hand to sweep home.
1-0 to Barca!
Chance for Barca
Semedo now making his presence felt at the other end.
He breaks forward and gets the cross in but Andre Gomes can only loop his header over the bar.
First real chance for Barcelona. 12 mins gone.
Big chance for Celta!
Iago Aspas latches on to a brilliant lobbed through ball, but Semedo does well to make a last-ditch challenge.
That looked a certain goal.
Great pass from Wass.
Positive start from Celta
The hosts are having most of the early pressure against their much-changed opponents.
Sisto is causing problems on the right flank, he wins a corner which comes to nothing.
Goalless after five minutes.
Peeeeeep!
We’re underway.
Barcelona kick us off.
Here we go!
Dembele returns
We will likely see the return of Ousmane Dembele to first-team action this evening.
The forward, signed from Borussia Dortmund in the summer, has missed three and a half months with a thigh injury.
He is named on the bench for Barca.
Cause for concern?
Barcelona will need to be careful tonight.
They have lost two of their last three meetings against Celta in the Copa del Rey.
Can the Catalans take a lead back to the Nou Camp?
Team news!
Here’s how the two sides line up...
Barcelona: Cillessen, Semedo, Piqué, Vermaelen, Digne, Paulinho, Busquets, Gomes, Vidal, Arnaiz, Denis
Subs: Ter Stegen, Roberto, Mascherano, Alba, Rakitić, Aleña, Dembélé
Celta Vigo: Sergio, Mallo, Fontás, Sergi Gómez, Jonny, Lobotka, Wass, Jozabed, Sisto, Maxi Gómez, Iago Aspas
Subs: Ruben, Radoja, Tucu Hernandez, Emre Mor, Cabral, Roncaglia, Brais Mendez
Messi draws up Barca wishlist
Lionel Messi has reportedly drawn up a list of five players Barcelona should consider signing in the January window.
The Catalan club look set to complete a deal for Philippe Coutinho before the end of the month, though there is a chance they could be forced to wait until the summer.
There are other options available to Barcelona and Diario Gol report that Messi has let his feelings known to the club’s hierarchy.
The Argentine forward has reportedly suggested four alternatives to Coutinho in case Liverpool decide to dig their heels in.
The first is Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil, who is in sensational form and has just six months of his contract remaining.
The German is, however, understood to want to see out his deal at the Emirates.
Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera is in the same situation with his deal at Old Trafford running down. Herrera previously worked with Ernesto Valverde at Athletic Bilbao.
Read more here.
