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Celta Vigo beat Barcelona 4-3 Barcelona in La Liga

By Michael Abayateye
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Three goals in 11 minutes in the first half helped Celta Vigo edge a seven-goal thriller over Barcelona, with the visitors losing their chance to go top of La Liga.

 

The Catalans’ performance was riddled with errors but it made for a fascinating game and one in which they almost came back from 3-0 down.

Gerard Pique scored twice in the second half and Neymar got the other as the Spanish champions nearly turned things around, but Celta’s first half onslaught helped them take the three points from Balaidos.


Luis Enrique rotated again, like he did in the defeat by Alaves—a mistake in retrospect, with Celta running riot against Rafinha and Andre Gomes, who replaced usual midfielders Andres Iniesta and Ivan Rakitic.

Barcelona actually started the game well, with Neymar hauled down on the edge of the box in the opening exchanges, with his free-kick smashed into the wall.

Jeremy Mathieu fired over after a neat dribble, while some fantastic interplay between Rafinha, Arda Turan and Luis Suarez ended with the Uruguayan forward firing a low strike at Sergio Alvarez.

And then the tide turned with some lethal Celta Vigo counter attacks that slashed Barcelona to ribbons.

Phone Sisto opened the scoring in the 22nd minute and by the 33rd his team were three up, after Iago Aspas doubled their lead before Mathieu put through his own net to end a bizarre spell—but not an unprecedented one.

Barcelona came to Balaidos little over a year ago in La Liga and were crushed 4-1 in a similar night to this, although that was inspired by Nolito, now of Manchester City.

But Eduardo Berizzo is a clever coach and even without the flying forward he has created a team that also troubled Real Madrid earlier this season.

Liverpool reject Aspas has become a key player in Galicia and his speed terrified Barcelona here.

However, the first goal was of Barcelona’s own making. A slack pass by Marc-Andre ter Stegen paired with Sergio Busquets’ poor piece of control saw Celta win the ball back and shuffle it forward quickly to Sisto, who drilled the ball under the German to open the scoring.

It was similar to the goal Barcelona conceded in midweek, with the ball being given away cheaply in midfield and the team paying a high price.

A few minutes later it was two. Suarez was denied in the Celta box and they broke quickly, with Busquets missing a header in midfield and Aspas racing onto the ball. He skinned Pique and slammed a shot into the far corner.

With Barcelona rocking Celta took full advantage, with a low raking cross from the right destined for Aspas forcing Mathieu to intervene. Unfortunately for Barcelona he only managed to steer the ball into his own goal.

On came Iniesta at half-time for his 600th Barcelona appearance. A fine milestone but one found in the middle of a sticky mess. But Mr Solutions started to clean things up.

It was his neat ball that Gerard Pique headed home to start Barcelona’s comeback, and another stunning pass for Andre Gomes that led to Barcelona’s second. Daily Mail

 



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