In a thrilling match on Sunday evening, Robert Lewandowski led FC Barcelona to a stunning comeback victory against Celta Vigo with a remarkable hat-trick. The game took place at the Estadio de Balaidos, where expectations were high but historically, matches against Celta have been challenging for Barcelona.
Early Match Excitement
The excitement started early when Lewandowski converted a penalty in the 12th minute. The penalty was awarded after VAR intervention for a handball by Celta’s Marcos Alonso. Lewandowski’s powerful shot broke through the hands of the goalkeeper, Ionut Radu, placing Barcelona ahead 1-0.
Just moments later, however, Barcelona’s lead was short-lived. Celta equalized through Serio Carreira, who scored after a swift counterattack. Goals continued to flow as Barcelona restored their advantage with another goal from Lewandowski in the 38th minute, bringing his tally for the match to two.
First-Half Frenzy
The first half ended with a flurry of goals. Although Iglesias scored for Celta, bringing the score to 2-2, Barcelona quickly responded with a goal from Lamine Yamal just before halftime, making it 3-2.
- 12th Minute: Lewandowski scores penalty (1-0).
- Equalizer: Carreira scores for Celta (1-1).
- 38th Minute: Lewandowski scores second goal (2-1).
- 43rd Minute: Iglesias scores for Celta (2-2).
- 45th Minute: Yamal scores before halftime (3-2).
Hat-Trick Hero
The second half started slower, with both teams cautious and focused on defense. However, Lewandowski stole the spotlight again, scoring his third goal of the match, thanks to another assist from Marcus Rashford. This goal not only completed his hat-trick but also marked an impressive achievement, as Lewandowski outscored former Barcelona star Neymar, now with 108 goals for Barcelona.
Match Stats and Implications
With this victory, Barcelona narrowed the gap to Real Madrid in the La Liga standings, reducing the difference from five to three points after Madrid’s draw against Rayo Vallecano. Despite some defensive lapses, including Wojciech Szczęsny conceding two goals, the team celebrated a crucial win.
The match concluded with a yellow card for Frenkie de Jong, who was sent off in stoppage time. Barcelona fans remain optimistic as they look forward to the upcoming matches after the international break, hoping for a strengthened squad.
