Barcelona secured a 4–2 victory over Celta Vigo in LaLiga, strengthening their position in the title race. Robert Lewandowski shined with a hat-trick, propelling the visitors to success, while Lamine Yamal added another goal before the break. This win brings Barcelona to 28 points, closing the gap to Real Madrid at the top to just three points. Meanwhile, Celta Vigo remains in 13th place with 13 points, trailing European qualification spots by five.
Lewandowski was the standout player of the match, scoring in the 10th, 37th, and 73rd minutes. His precise finishing ensured Barcelona’s dominance, with his third goal, scored from a corner, showcasing his impact. Celta Vigo fought back with goals from Sergio Carreira and Borja Iglesias but struggled to match Barcelona’s attacking prowess.
Marcus Rashford played a vital role, providing assists for two of Lewandowski’s goals, particularly effective from set pieces in unlocking Celta Vigo’s defense. Barcelona effectively controlled the match tempo, capitalizing on early pressure and set-piece opportunities, with Celta Vigo responding with two well-timed goals but failing to contain Barcelona’s attacking threats.
The victory places Barcelona two points ahead of Villarreal in third place. The match saw late drama as Frenkie de Jong received a second yellow card and was sent off in stoppage time. While this incident did not impact the result, it may affect Barcelona’s squad options post the international break.
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick expressed his delight with Lewandowski’s performance, noting a positive transformation in the striker since his return from injury. Flick praised Lewandowski’s confidence-boosting hat-trick and emphasized his importance to the team. Flick also lamented De Jong’s red card, acknowledging his valuable contribution to the match and expressing disappointment at his upcoming absence. Flick highlighted the significance of entering the international break with a win and wished for the team’s continued health and success.