Late Push Propels Barcelona To La Liga Victory Over Celta Vigo
Robert Lewandowski double helps Barca stage incredible comeback to secure all three points against Celta Vigo in a 3-2 win in La Liga’s Saturday night showdown.
First Half:
The match started with notable lineup changes for Barcelona, including Marcos Alonso at left-back, Oriol Romeu in midfield, and Ferran Torres on the right wing. Xavi’s tactical adjustments were evident as the game unfolded.
Celta Vigo entered the game with a determined defence, making it challenging for Barcelona to break through. Despite Barca’s early control of possession, Celta’s tight defensive line frustrated their attempts to create chances.
The turning point came in the 18th minute when Jørgen Strand Larsen capitalised on a failed clearance to give Celta Vigo a 1-0 lead. Celta continued to dominate, nearly doubling their lead on multiple occasions.
Barcelona had their moments, with Joao Felix missing a good opportunity and Ilkay Gundogan sending a shot wide. The first half ended with the visitors leading 1-0.
Halftime:
Celta Vigo’s counter-attacking strategy allowed them to generate chances as they made the most of Barcelona’s mistakes. Barcelona struggled to create clear chances, made mistakes and needed to improve their attacking dynamics in the second half.
Second Half:
Barcelona made changes at halftime, bringing in Ronald Araujo and Lamine Yamal for Romeu and Alonso.
Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres had opportunities to level the score, but Celta’s defence held firm. Barcelona’s patience paid off in the 80th minute when Lewandowski netted a crucial goal, reducing the deficit to 2-1 with his lob over Iván Villar.
Barcelona’s late surge continued with Lewandoski scoring his brace. Cancelo squares it back to Lewandoski who’s unmarked and side foots it home. Five goals in LaLiga now for the Polish forward.
In the closing moments of regular time, Cancelo gets himself on the score sheet, putting away Gavi’s cross into Celta’s net, securing a remarkable 3-2 comeback victory for Barcelona.
Full Time:
The exciting contest showcased Barcelona’s resilience as they rallied from a 2-0 deficit to snatch a crucial win. Despite a valiant effort from Celta Vigo, Rafael Benítez’s side ultimately fell short.
Barcelona now tops La Liga with 16 points, while Celta Vigo languishes in 17th place with just four points.
Joao Cancelo, who scored the winning goal, reflected on the match, emphasising the importance of “patience” and acknowledging his own room for improvement.
He said: “Despite not playing well we got the three points which is the important thing.”
Oscar Mingueza praised his team’s performance and strategy, despite the late-game fatigue and errors.
He said: “We wanted to defend and find our chances on the counter. After the 80th minute, our tiredness started to show and we made some mistakes.”
Barcelona faces Mallorca on Tuesday, September 26, at 20:30, while Celta Vigo hosts Alaves on Thursday, September 28, at 18:00.
Squads:
