With a goal-hungry Robert Lewandowski, FC Barcelona won at RC Celta – and took advantage of a mistake by Real Madrid.
In Barca’s 4-2 (3-2) win at Real Club Celta de Vigo on Sunday evening, attacker Lewandowski contributed three goals (10th, hand penalty, 37th, 73rd). In injury time of a furious first half, Lamine Yamal also scored (45’+4), after Borja Iglesias (12′, 43′) had previously scored twice for Celta.
Barca’s Frankie de Jong had to leave the field late with a yellow-red card (90+5) because he stepped on Iago Aspas’ foot in a duel.
Real leaves points behind
Barcelona remain second in the La Liga table after the deserved victory and reduced the gap to leaders Madrid to three points. Real only played 0-0 at twelfth-placed Rayo Vallecano on Sunday afternoon. It was Madrid’s first draw and only one defeat on matchday 12.
Yamal hits the post
Barcelona’s half-time lead in Celta de Vigo was deserved given a goal-scoring statistic of 15-4, but the defense once again looked vulnerable. After the break, coach Hansi Flick managed to stabilize the defense and the favorites confidently brought home the victory. Yamal hit the post in the 88th minute.
Flick is not without controversy after a mixed start to the season. After the recent 3-3 draw with outsiders FC Bruges in the Champions League, legends Ruud Gullit and Thierry Henry sharply criticized the former national coach. Gullit described the style of play with a high defensive line as counterproductive and “kamikaze-like”.