Barcelona Secures Victory Over Celta Vigo
Following a display of resilience, Barcelona managed to secure a 4-2 victory over Celta Vigo, thanks in large part to a hat trick by Robert Lewandowski. This win narrows the gap between them and LaLiga leaders Real Madrid to just three points. Prior to this match, Barça had experienced a disappointing phase, winning only three out of their last seven encounters, with a particularly distressing 3-3 draw against Club Brugge midweek. This raised concerns regarding head coach Hansi Flick‘s strategy of deploying a high defensive line, which had been vulnerable in previous matches.
Match Highlights
The first half of the game exhibited similar problems, as Barcelona struggled defensively, allowing Celta to equalize twice after Lewandowski initially scored. His opening goal came from a penalty, followed by another from close range after a cross from Marcus Rashford. However, Lamine Yamal managed to regain the lead for Barcelona just before halftime, and Lewandowski completed his hat trick after the interval with a well-placed header.
Flick’s Post-Match Comments
In his post-match comments, Flick addressed the media’s scrutiny, insisting that he was choosing to ignore the critiques from analysts and former professionals. “I’ve always thought about responding to experts, but I won’t engage with that,” he stated, emphasizing the importance of maintaining confidence within the team. “It’s crucial that the players believe in our approach, and today’s second half is a reflection of what we aim to achieve.”
Reflecting on the match, Flick noted that while mistakes were made in the first half—particularly in their defensive play—the team showed significant improvement in the second half, which he believes will bolster their confidence heading into future matches. Once again, Lewandowski expressed satisfaction not only with his goal tally but also with the overall team performance, underscoring the need for continuous improvement as they target the top of the table. Despite his injury struggles earlier in the season, Lewandowski has now netted seven goals in just 449 minutes of gameplay.
“Winning today was crucial, especially considering Real Madrid’s draw against Rayo Vallecano earlier,” Lewandowski commented. “Now, we need to stay focused and work on the areas that need improvement to maintain our competitive edge.”
Challenges Ahead
However, Barcelona’s victory came with some drawbacks. Midfielder Frenkie de Jong received a red card for accumulating two yellow cards, leaving him suspended for the upcoming match against Athletic Club following the international break. Moreover, concerns also loom over the fitness of Pedri, who is uncertain for the next match due to an injury, and Marc Casadó, who was withdrawn shortly before kickoff. His physical condition will be assessed in tests on Monday.
Overall, despite the challenges ahead, Barcelona’s recent win provides a much-needed boost to their aspirations in LaLiga.
