Big disaster for Barça in Balaidos. Hansi Flick’s side came back from a 0-2 deficit in the 84th minute and were about to leave empty-handed. The Blaugranas were shut down after Marc Casado was sent off for a double yellow card. Moreover, a grotesque mistake by Jules Kounde allowed Celta to dream of a draw, which they eventually achieved. (This is how we survived the match with Barça).
Barca once again missed Lamine Yamal in the attack. The team created very few scoring chances and only the combination of Raphinha and Lewandowski allowed us to think about winning. Nothing could be further from the truth. Barça’s efficiency in attack contrasted with its defensive work.
In two minutes, Barça had undone all the work they had done up to the 84th minute. After losing to Real Sociedad, Hansi Flick’s men regained their top-scoring side, scoring two goals in just two games. Without much chance, the Barça team tried to put the game to sleep by taking control of the ball, but the players could not resist Vigo’s attack.
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Barça tried to play direct football again and that is how the first goal of the game was scored. A long pass from Jules Kounde, which Raphinha did not miss and opened the scoring. The Brazilian is experiencing his best moment since becoming a Barça player. After control, he escaped from Mingueza with a cut and beat Guaita with an excellent finishing move.
The Brazilian’s early goal suggested Barca could score the goals they missed against Real Sociedad, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The team was more concerned with containing Celta than finding a second. Claudio Giraldes’ men leave with a bittersweet taste as the scoreline could have been different if not for Soto Grado.
Disputes in the party
With the score 0:1, Iago Aspas collided with Iñaki Pena’s goal when he fell to the ground after a struggle with Gerard Martin. A small burden, the judge probably thought, so as not to impose the maximum punishment. He was not called out of the VOR room to watch the game due to the Celta captain’s lack of confidence.
At the end of the break, Iago Aspas and Gerard Martin were again the protagonists. The Barça defender made a tackle on a Celta player that could have been punished with a yellow card, although Soto Grado decided not to warn the culé player as he already had a yellow card and giving him another would have meant sending him off.
Iago Aspas’ anger was great when justice was not done according to his criteria at two key points in the game. Hansi Flick decided to get better and released the player at half-time, fearing that he would be left with 10 players, although in the end it was inevitable.
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In the second half, Raphinha once again demonstrated his creativity. The Brazilian assisted Lewandowski with an outside pass and the Pole did the rest. Starfelt wasn’t convincing and you can’t make any mistakes against La Liga’s top scorer because he doesn’t forgive. The 0-2 scoreline put the game back on track for Barça, who seemed to be back with a win.
However, in the last minutes the team pulled out of the game. In the 82nd minute, Mark Casado was sent off for a double yellow card after tackling Ilaix Moriba, and two minutes later Kounde inexplicably lost the ball in his own penalty area, ending with a goal from Alfon Gonzalez and a disbelief from Hansi Flick.
Celta players celebrate their return with their fans.
Reuters
The goal gave Celta wings and they went in search of an opportunity to equalise. It didn’t take them long to get it. Hugo Alvarez made it 2-2 in the 86th minute, leveling the game. Barça’s work in the remaining 84 minutes was dismantled in just two minutes. Claudio Giraldes asked his players to remain calm, but Celta’s exit to third place was inevitable.
Borja Iglesias was 3-2 up in his boots but using his heel to finish his cross did not help him beat Iñaki Pena. The frustration of the Barça players became even more evident when Soto Grado announced the end of the match. La Liga is gaining momentum again: Real Madrid has seven points (two games less) and Atlético Madrid five.