MADRID, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona faces a vital week for the club's immediate future with a visit to play Celta Vigo in La Liga on Saturday, followed by the first leg of its Champions League last-16 tie away to Napoli on Wednesday night.

Barca travels to Vigo with a five-point lead over fifth place Athletic Bilbao in La Liga and with a place in next season's Champions League far from assured (especially as it visits Bilbao at the start of March).

Failure to win away to Celta could see its safety margin in the top-four reduced to a worrying two points, but at the same time, coach Xavi Hernandez has to ensure his players are at their best for the trip to Italy.

Balancing Barcelona's budget for the season depends on the club reaching the quarterfinal of the Champions League and failure to do so could have drastic consequences for the debt-ridden club.

Although Barca president Joan Laporta has publicly backed Xavi until the end of the season, when Xavi has said he will step down, Barca's shambolic display at home to second from bottom Granada last weekend has sparked rumors that a Champions League exit could see Xavi sacked.

The atmosphere around the club isn't being helped by rumors over the future of several players, with Raphinha, Frenkie de Jong and even young left back Alejandro Balde rumored to be on the market.

Xavi's first task is to prepare his side for Saturday's game, where he will once again be without long term absentees Gavi, Balde, and Marcos Alonso, while Ferran Torres, Joao Felix and Oriol Romeu are also sidelined.

Those absences again limit his options to rotate the side ahead of the trip to Napoli and youngsters Pau Cubarsi and Hector Font could again help make up the numbers.

16-year-old Yamine Lamal has been Barca's best player in recent weeks, but Xavi has to be careful not to overload the youngster and Raphinha will probably start on the right of defense.

Celta has been hugely erratic this season and goes into the game just three points above the relegation zone, but as its 3-0 win away to Osasuna showed last weekend, it has plenty of talent in players such as Jurgen Strand Larsen, former Barca defender Oscar Mingueza and defender Unai Nunez, while veteran Iago Aspas has tormented Barca plenty of times in the past.

Barca needs a win to set up its visit to Napoli, because a defeat would ramp the pressure up on Xavi, and, as his decision to leave shows, the coach is always the weakest link. Enditem

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