Celta Vigo 2-4 Barcelona: Lewandowski hat-trick fires Barça back into title race | OneFootball

Barcelona returned to winning ways with a thrilling 4-2 victory over Celta Vigo at the Estadio Abanca-Balaídos, moving within three points of league leaders Real Madrid heading into the international break. Robert Lewandowski’s hat-trick and a composed finish from Lamine Yamal proved decisive after a chaotic first half in which Sergio Carreira and Borja Iglesias had twice drawn the hosts level.

Celta battled bravely and briefly threatened an upset, but their resistance finally broke as Lewandowski completed his treble from a Marcus Rashford corner before Frenkie de Jong was sent off late on.

As it happened

Barcelona struck first after just 10 minutes. Lewandowski made no mistake from the penalty spot, firing low to the right after Marcos Alonso handled inside the box.

Celta responded immediately. Borja Iglesias slipped Sergio Carreira through on goal, and the full-back finished smartly past Wojciech Szczęsny to make it 1-1.

The visitors regained the lead on 37 minutes when Rashford found Lewandowski again, the Polish striker squeezing his effort through Ionuț Radu’s legs. Celta were undeterred and equalised just before the break as Ferran Jutglà cut back for Iglesias to curl home from the edge of the area.

Four minutes into added time, Lamine Yamal restored Barça’s advantage. Ilaix Moriba nudged the ball into his path, and the teenager fired inside Radu’s near post to send the visitors into half-time 3-2 ahead.

Celta pressed hard after the restart but faded as Barça’s quality showed. In the 73rd minute, Rashford’s corner was glanced in at the near post by Lewandowski to complete his hat-trick and put the game beyond reach.

Substitutes Andreas Christensen and Gerard Martin were introduced to steady things late on, but there was still time for drama when de Jong received a second yellow in stoppage time. Even so, Barcelona held firm to secure a crucial away win.

The lineups

CEL: Radu; Alonso, Starfelt, Fernández; Carreira, Moriba, Sotelo, Mingueza; Durán, Iglesias, Jutglà.