What a game and what a spectacle at the Estadi Olímpic, FC Barcelona coming back to win 4-3 against Celta de Vigo on a beautiful Spring day in the Catalan capital, with 48,569 spectators watching on.

Three more valuable league points that looked in jeopardy when Borja Iglesias completed his hat-trick after an early goal by Ferran Torres. However, back came Barça through Raphinha and Dani Olmo, before the former converted a late penalty called on the latter to seal the win. 

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HIGHLIGHTS | Barça v Celta

 

A minute's silence was held before kickoff in honour of the Escobar Camprubí family – descendants of former Club presidents Agustí Montal i Galobart and Agustí Montal I Costa – who had tragically passed away in a helicopter accident in New York a week earlier.

First half fails to spark

The game began somewhat slowly, with neither sides hitting their strides in the first 10 minutes. The first goal came shortly after though, Ferran Torres with a good solo run that ended with a shot into the far left corner from just inside the right hand side of the area (1-0, min 12). The lead was short-lived, however, as Iglesias rolled in the leveller for Celta de Vigo after Szczesny was unable to cut out a ball across the box (1-1, min 15). 

Barça kept probing from that point onwards, but no clear-cut chances were coming, and they had Szczesny to thank for keeping the score level, as he made a double save from Ilaix Moriba and Pablo Duran (min 42) as the visitors threatened. Halftime score 1-1.

Celta take the lead

Barça came out on top after the break, testing Guaita on several occasions, the best coming from Fermín, his powerful shot almost surprising the Celta keeper. Then, a quick counterattack including a mix up between De Jong and Iñigo Martinez left Iglesias to run through and finish well into the far left corner from the right (1-2, min 52). 

Hansi Flick brought on Dani Olmo and Lamine Yamal (min 59) and it would prove to be a positive move, but first a long ball from Celta saw Iglesias run on to complete his hat-trick with a deft dinked finish (1-3, min 62) and complicate matters even further.

Barça come back into the match

Barça weren't cowed, and with still almost thirty minutes left in the game, there was plenty of time to come back. Soon after Lewandowski fed Raphinha, who in turn saw Dani Olmo's run, and his low finish from around the six yard line got one back for the blaugranes (2-3, min 64). There was more to come, and a second goal in five minutes sealed the comeback, Lamine Yamal with a superb swirling left foot cross that Raphinha headed in well from inside the six yard box (3-3, min 68). 

The Catalans kept plugging away, knowing that a win was vital for their league aspirations. Dani Olmo and Kounde both went close, and Celta also had a header from former blaugrana Migueza go just past the post. Then, deep into time added on, with both sides keen to find a winner, Olmo was impeded from behind in the box. Up stepped Raphinha to fire in the winner from the penalty spot (4-3, min 98), completing his brace, and confirming another valuable three points to take the lead in LaLiga to seven points as it stands.

 

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