FC Barcelona sidelined Celta de Vigo in spectacular fashion on Saturday evening. Ex-Eredivisionists Jørgen Strand Larsen and Anastasios Douvikas gave the visitors a surprising 0-2 lead. Thanks to late goals from Robert Lewandowski (2x) and João Cancelo, the Catalans ultimately came out on top. With the win, Barcelona takes back the lead in LaLiga on goal difference from Girona.
Xavi made three changes to his starting eleven compared to the midweek Champions League match with Royal Antwerp (5-0). Marcos Alonso, Oriol Romeu and Ferran Torres came into the team, while Alejandro Balde, Gavi and Raphinha had to settle for a place on the bench. Ronald Araújo also made his return to the match selection.
The opening phase was all about exploring. Both teams hardly managed to create any chances. Frenkie de Jong had to set the lines in midfield for the Catalans, but the right leg received a tap on his ankle early in the game, after which Gavi started his warm-up. De Jong still tried, but staggered to the side just under ten minutes before half-time.
BARÇA ON BEHIND ??
Strand Larsen makes it 0-1 and puts Celta ahead ??#ZiggoSport #LaLiga #BarçaCelta pic.twitter.com/qMTcgXUGa7
— Ziggo Sport Voetbal (@ZS_Voetbal) September 23, 2023
At that moment, Barcelona was already facing a 0-1 deficit. Luca de la Torre reached the ball before Jules Koundé and found Jørgen Strand Larsen, who then coolly pushed the ball into the long corner. The visitors failed to cause Barcelona even deeper problems just before half-time. Strand Larsen forced Marc-André Ter Stegen to make a strong reflex with a header, after which De La Torre shot the ball in from twelve meters, but the American shot hopelessly over.
DO??????????????????VIKAS! ??
Another ex-Eredivisionist who does it on behalf of Celta de Vigo against Barcelona and threatens the Catalans’ first loss match ??#ZiggoSport #LaLiga #BarçaCelta pic.twitter.com/q3fI7Hzl8B— Ziggo Sport Voetbal (@ZS_Voetbal) September 23, 2023
Celta kept the defensive ranks closed after the break and came out of nowhere to 0-2. After a lightning-fast counter, Douvikas was sent into the depths, after which the former FC Utrecht goal machine finished while falling. Barcelona did everything they could to make a comeback and even managed to completely turn the match around in the end. Lewandowski made it 1-2 after a nice tip-over from João Félix. Substitute Cancelo kept the overview a few minutes later and put it back to Lewandowski, who leveled the score again. The remontada was complete just before regular playing time expired, when Cancelo had the ball to run in after a beautiful pass from Gavi: 3-2.
Oh, João Félix and Robert Lewandowski combine wonderfully to get Barcelona back into the match: 1-2! ?#ZiggoSport #LaLiga #BarçaCelta pic.twitter.com/8SqYzhYhJt
— Ziggo Sport Voetbal (@ZS_Voetbal) September 23, 2023
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In the last 3 minutes, Barcelona strikes 3 times: João Cancelo finishes him?#ZiggoSport #LaLiga #BarçaCelta pic.twitter.com/9yB1ArPo9F— Ziggo Sport Voetbal (@ZS_Voetbal) September 23, 2023
| No. | Team | M | W | G | V | +/- | Pnt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barcelona | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 16 |
| 2 | Girona | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 16 |
| 3 | Real Madrid | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 15 |
| 4 | Athletic Club | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 13 |
| 5 | Valencia | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 9 |
| 6 | Rayo Vallecano | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 9 |
| 7 | Atlético Madrid | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| 8 | Osasuna | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | -1 | 7 |
| 9 | Cadiz | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | -2 | 7 |
| 10 | Getafe | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | -2 | 7 |
| 11 | Real Betis | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | -5 | 7 |
| 12 | Real Sociedad | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| 13 | Villarreal | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | -2 | 6 |
| 14 | Alaves | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | -4 | 6 |
| 15 | Real Mallorca | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -3 | 5 |
| 16 | Seville | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 4 |
| 17 | Celta de Vigo | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | -4 | 4 |
| 18 | Granada | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | -7 | 3 |
| 19 | Las Palmas | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | -3 | 2 |
| 20 | Almeria | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | -6 | 1 |