Barcelona staged a sensational comeback to edge Celta Vigo 4-3 on Saturday, overturning a two-goal deficit and stretching their La Liga result in seven factors over Real Madrid.
Trailing 3-1 with below half-hour to play – due to a Borja Iglesias hat trick – Barça roared again as Dani Olmo sparked the fightback and Raphinha delivered the knockout punch, scoring twice, together with a dramatic 98th-minute penalty.
Second-place Real Madrid host Athletic Bilbao on Sunday, with a possible title-deciding Clasico looming in May.
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick, who railed towards his group’s intense schedule on Friday, rested teenage star Lamine Yamal for the primary time in 2025. But he was later referred to as from the bench after Iglesias’ treble put the guests forward.
The Catalans struck first within the twelfth minute when Ferran Torres, beginning rather than the 17-year-old, strolled into area and – with the protection backing off – drilled a low shot previous Vicente Guaita from the sting of the field.
Celta Vigo swiftly hit again, exposing Barcelona’s excessive defensive position simply three minutes later.
Pablo Duran broke free down the appropriate and squared for Iglesias to faucet into an empty web, after goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny failed to chop out the cross.
Raphinha whistled a free kick over the bar and La Liga’s high scorer, Robert Lewandowski, blasted wildly astray as Barça looked for a second.
At the opposite finish, Szczesny pulled off a double save from Ilaix Moriba and Iker Losada to maintain the rating degree.
Celta, flying excessive in La Liga and eyeing a European spot subsequent season, seemed harmful going ahead.
Claudio Giraldez’s aspect took the lead early within the second half after Frenkie de Jong gave the ball away in a harmful space. Iglesias pounced, drove into area and fired a low strike past Szczesny.
Minutes later, Celta struck once more on the counterattack. Sergio Carreira launched Iglesias behind Barcelona’s excessive line, and the ahead galloped clear to beat the retreating Szczesny with ease, finishing his hat trick.
Inspired by substitutes Yamal and Olmo, Barcelona rallied. Raphinha threaded a move by way of for Olmo, who slotted previous Guaita to ignite the Olympic Stadium crowd.
Four minutes later, Raphinha leveled it himself, heading residence Yamal’s cross from the appropriate flank.
Celta almost reclaimed the lead within the ninetieth minute, however former Barcelona defender Oscar Mingueza nodded extensive from point-blank vary.
In stoppage time, Barcelona had been awarded a penalty after a VAR evaluation confirmed Olmo was clattered from behind by Yoel Lago within the field.
With Lewandowski subbed off, Raphinha stepped up and rifled the spot kick into the top-right nook to seal a dramatic – and doubtlessly decisive – victory.
Source: www.dailysabah.com