Celta Vigo 2-4 Barcelona: Hansi Flick’s side dig deep for vital three points
Robert Lewandowski marked his return for Barcelona with a superb hat-trick as Hansi Flick’s side beat Celta Vigo 4-2 on Sunday, moving to within three points of La Liga leaders Real Madrid.
The Polish striker, back in the starting lineup after a month out with a muscle injury, scored twice in the first half and sealed his treble midway through the second, while Lamine Yamal also found the net in a frantic contest at Balaidos.
But it wasn’t a perfect evening for Barcelona, as they finished with 10 men after Frenkie de Jong was sent off late on with a second yellow card. Nevertheless, the result ensured they capitalised on Real Madrid’s stumble against Rayo Vallecano earlier in the day.
Lewandowski gave the visitors an early lead from the penalty spot in the ninth minute after Marcos Alonso handled a shot from Fermin Lopez. But the advantage was immediately cancelled, Celta’s Sergio Carreira racing in behind the Barcelona defence with the time and space for a composed finish.
Marcus Rashford, who had earlier wasted a golden opportunity to put Barcelona 2-0 up, made amends after the half-hour when he whipped in a cross from the left that Lewandowski slotted in between the goalkeeper’s legs.
Borja Iglesias responded once more for the hosts with a curling strike from the edge of the area, but Barcelona went into the break ahead after Yamal converted a deflected Rashford cross in stoppage time.
Lewandowski completed his hat-trick in the 73rd minute, glancing in Rashford’s in-swinging corner at the near post to put the game beyond Celta.
