Barcelona achieved a magnificent return of two goals to beat Celta Vigo 4-3 on Saturday and moved seven points away from Real Madrid in the La Liga title race. The Catalans dragged 3-1 in the last half hour after a hat-trick Borja Iglesias for visitors, but Dani Olmo scored, then Raphinha struck twice, including a 98th minute penalty, to snatch three essential points for leaders. The champions of Real Madrid, second, welcome Bilbao sport on Sunday, with a clasico force test still to come in May.
“This attitude, this mentality of not giving up, is really great to see … We have tried everything to get the three points and we did it,” Barcelona coach Hansi Flick told journalists.
However, Flick said that striker Robert Lewandowski needed tests after being published with an apparent problem with the hamstrings, which makes him doubt the final of Copa del Rey next weekend against his Real Madrid rivals.
“According to my experience, we are waiting tomorrow (and tests),” said Flick, who did not want to exclude the club’s top scorer too quickly.
Friday, the coach, who slowed down against the intense program of his team, rested the teenage star Lamine Yamal for the first time in 2025, although it was later necessary on the bench after the triple of Iglesias.
The Catalans took the lead after 12 minutes when Ferran Torres, starting in the place of the 17 -year -old woman, walked in space and with the defense standing next, pierced the vicent Guaita from the edge of the box.
Celta Vigo quickly retaliated, kissing the high defensive line of Barcelona three minutes later.
Pablo Duran escaped right with the blocked defense and his cross was returned home by Iglesias in an empty net, after goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has immersed effortlessly to try to intercept the ball.
Celta, seventh at La Liga and in the running for European football next season, found a lot of joy in the future.
Claudio Giraldez’s team took the lead at the start of the second half after a Frenkie de Jong error, who gave up possession with negligence in a dangerous area, allowing Iglesias to find an angle and lead a low effort out of the reach of Szczesny.
With Barcelona on the attack, Celta struck them again with Sergio Carreira playing Iglesias in an ocean of space behind the High Line. The attacker galloped and beaten the SZCZESNY in retirement with ease.
Fascinating return
Inspired by replacements Yamal and Olmo, Barcelona retaliated, showing the attacking verve that their Real Madrid rivals lacked in the middle of the week when they were looking for their own return against Arsenal in the Champions League.
Raphinha pushed a pass for Olmo to beat Guaita and Rouse the crowd of the Olympic stadium with his stupor.
Four minutes later, the Brazilian winger marked, returning home while Yamal was crossing the danger zone from the right flank.
The former defender of Barcelona, Oscar Mingueza, could have hit Celta Vigo in the 90th minute, but extended from the chain at close range.
Finally, Barcelona received a deep penalty in injury time after a Var review when Olmo was clumsy from behind by Yoel Lago.
With Lewandowski replaced in the last stages, Raphinha took responsibility and hammered in the upper right corner to win his team a dramatic and potentially vital victory.
“It’s football, we really wanted to win, maybe we were not at our best (earlier in the game), but the team’s response, and fans pushed us … We deserve it,” Olmo told Dazn.
“These are three points that bring us closer to our goal, they are important and we must continue.”
Celta had nothing to show for their efforts.
“It is a soft-make-up feeling … We have marked three, what few teams can do (here), but it hurts,” said Duran de Celta.
(This story has not been published by NDTV staff and is automatically generated from a unionized flow.)
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