La Liga leaders Barcelona faced a stunning late collapse at the Estadio de Balaídos. Two quickfire goals saw RC Celta de Vigo rescue a 2-2 draw in an action-packed encounter. This thrilling result marked Barça’s first draw of the season and further exposed their struggles on the road against Celta.
Barcelona Seek Redemption, Celta Stand Strong
After their controversial loss to Real Sociedad, Barcelona arrived in Vigo eager to bounce back. However, the Catalan giants were reminded of their poor record at Balaídos, where they had only secured two wins in their last 10 visits. Celta showed their intent from the first whistle, creating two early chances through Iago Aspas and Anastasios Douvikas. Despite these efforts, the home side lacked the clinical touch to convert.
Barça capitalized on their opponents’ wastefulness with a moment of brilliance in the 15th minute. Jules Koundé launched a long ball into the path of Raphinha, who showcased his dazzling skills to break through and score his 13th goal of the season. The early strike rattled Celta, but they continued to probe, creating several chances before halftime. Robert Lewandowski thought he had doubled Barcelona’s lead just before the break, but his goal was ruled out for offside.
Second-Half Sparks: Lewandowski’s Magic and Missed Chances
The second half began in a subdued fashion, with both teams struggling to rediscover the intensity of the opening 45 minutes. It wasn’t until the 61st minute that Lewandowski made his mark. After a clever interception by Raphinha in midfield, the Polish marksman slotted home via a deflection to make it 2-0 for the visitors.
Celta, however, refused to back down. Alfonso González came close to pulling one back, but Iñaki Peña quickly gathered his attempt. Barça themselves missed a chance to put the game to bed when Raphinha’s effort struck the post following a slick assist from Dani Olmo.
Madness in the Final Minutes
As Barcelona appeared to be cruising to victory, the game flipped dramatically in the last 10 minutes. Marc Casadó received marching orders for a second yellow card, reducing Barça to 10 men. Sensing an opportunity, Celta pounced.
González sparked the comeback by stealing possession from Koundé and firing a powerful shot past Peña to make it 2-1. Moments later, Álvarez danced through Barça’s defense with incredible composure, twisting and turning before calmly slotting the ball into the far corner. With the home crowd roaring, Celta looked likelier to win, but Barcelona held on for dear life to salvage a point.
What’s Next for Barcelona and Celta?
The draw leaves Barcelona vulnerable at the top, handing Real Madrid a golden chance to close the gap when they face CD Leganés on Sunday. Meanwhile, Celta’s resilience extended their unbeaten run to four matches. Os Celestes will carry their momentum into next week’s clash against RCD Espanyol as they look to climb further up the table.
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Conclusion
This thrilling encounter at Balaídos was a stark reminder of Barcelona’s vulnerabilities on the road and showcased Celta’s fighting spirit. For Kenyan fans and bettors, such matches prove why La Liga remains one of the world’s most unpredictable and entertaining leagues. Will Barça recover in their next game, or is the title race about to heat up even more? One thing’s certain—La Liga keeps us glued to the action!
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