Barcelona 4-3 Celta Vigo: 3 talking points from crazy Catalan comeback

Barcelona triumphed in a seven-goal thriller on Saturday afternoon as they beat Celta Vigo 4-3 courtesy of Raphinha's 98th-minute penalty.

Borja Iglesias produced a clinical hat-trick to cancel out Ferran Torres' opener but an astonishing turnaround saw Barcelona claim victory as Dani Olmo's strike and Raphinha's brace sealed the comeback.

La Blaugrana's winner in the dying embers moves them seven points clear of La Liga title rivals Real Madrid before their clash with Athletic Club on Sunday night.

How the game unfolded

Barcelona were guilty of making an uninspiring start during their midweek defeat to Borussia Dortmund but were able to strike first in the battle with Celta. Torres, who had come into the lineup for the rested Lamine Yamal, produced an excellent drive from the edge of the area as Hansi Flick fist-pumped a nerve-easing opener on the touchline.

But the high line that was exposed in Europe on Tuesday night was sliced through just three minutes later as the visitors secured a quick-fire equaliser. Former Barcelona defender Marcos Alonso started a brisk counter-attack as he released Pablo Duran down the right-hand side, with the wide midfielder finding Igelsias for a tap-in and the veteran's sixth La Liga goal of the season.

Surrendering the lead didn't see Barcelona cede their dominance for the remainder of a low-key first half, but they struggled to unleash their full attacking potential in front of a subdued home crowd. In fact, it was Celta who created the most promising opening before the break, with Wojciech Szczesny - who didn't cover himself in glory for the leveller - required to rebuff consecutive efforts from ex-Barcelona midfielder Ilaix Moriba and Iker Losada.

Celta continued to cause Barcelona's fragile defensive line issues after the restart and they benefitted from a sizeable Frenkie de Jong error to take the lead in the 52nd minute. An aimless hoof upfield slipped under the foot of the Dutch midfielder, with Iglesias racing clean through on goal and rattling a clinical shot beyond Szczesny.

Iglesias was unsurprisingly overjoyed to have doubled Celta's advantage and the 32-year-old looked positively stunned as he delicately poked home his hat-trick just ten minutes later. Some more absent Barcelona defending allowed the striker the freedom of Catalonia and he made no mistake in putting a two-goal buffer between the sides.

But Iglesias and his teammates would not be smirking soon after. Within six minutes of Celta's third, Barcelona had equalised as Raphinha assisted substitute Dani Olmo before getting his name on the scoresheet as he redirected Lamine Yamal's teasing cross beyond Vicente Guaita. In a flash, Hansi Flick's side were suddenly dreaming of victory once more.

And that's exactly what they earned deep into stoppage-time. Having witnessed former Barcelona defender Oscar Mingueza miss a sitter just moments earlier, the hosts were reliant on a VAR intervention following a clumsy challenge on Olmo in the penalty area, with Raphinha keeping calm from 12 yards to fire the Catalans further clear of title rivals Madrid.

Player ratings

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Barcelona take huge stride towards title

As has been the case on several occasions in recent weeks, Barcelona were far from their fluid best during Celta's visit. A lethargic first-half display was followed by some catastrophic defending after the break as they looked destined to allow Madrid back into the title picture. But when you have an array of match-winners at your disposal, you don't have to be at your best.

Three points was of paramount importance for Barcelona as they looked to move further adrift of Madrid, who have a tricky clash with Athletic Club on Sunday, and Flick's side showed tremendous character to come from behind with the pressure rising.

It was a match for the individual rather than the team as Barcelona's attacking dynamos stepped up to the plate, but these are the kind of victories needed to win championships. Few triumphs will have tasted sweeter this season.

Substitutions save La Blaugrana

Flick raised eyebrows by leaving Yamal and Dani Olmo on the bench for Saturday's encounter and they were decisions that almost proved costly. For the first hour, Barcelona looked apathetic and unconvincing in the final third, seldom putting Celta under any significant or consistent pressure.

But the entrance of Yamal and Olmo from the bench transformed the game. Barcelona conceded their third within several minutes of their arrival but it was the latter who swiftly reduced the deficit and kickstarted the comeback - with the help of Raphinha, who was exceptional in the final half-hour. With momentum shifting in Barcelona's favour, it was Yamal's turn to step up, producing a sumptuous cross for Raphinha to turn home from close range.

Raphinha was the match-winner in the dying embers but it was Olmo who drew the foul in the penalty area that handed Barcelona the decisive seventh goal of a bonkers affair. The Spaniard's late bursts into the box simply proved too much for Celta to handle.

Flick deserves credit for making the correct - albeit obvious - substitutions in Barcelona's hour of need, but he will think twice before resting key personnel again down the stretch.

Defensive disorganisation proves costly

Barcelona's brave (or naive) offside trap was repeatedly exposed during a chastening but ultimately meaningless defeat to Dortmund midweek, and those hoping the Catalan behemoths had learned their lesson ahead of Celta's visit were left bitterly disappointed.

Celta have enjoyed a surprisingly prolific campaign under Claudio Giraldez - they're the sixth-highest La Liga scorers - and were quick to punish Barcelona's ambitiously high line, using the width of Duran and Williot Swedberg to stretch the home side. Los Celestes were particularly proficient down the Barcelona's left-hand side as they looked to isolate deputy Blaugrana full-back Gerard Martin.

Celta's early equaliser epitomised Barcelona's defensive issues as the visitors required just two passes to move from their own half to breaching the home goal. The direct approach of Giraldez's men once again highlighted the risks of playing with such an aggressive line - especially one that looks increasingly disorganised.

Barcelona defending after the restart was even more shambolic as Celta sauntered towards Szczesny's goal at will, with individual errors and a lack of communication almost costing them ground in the title race. It was an embarrassing performance from the backline, who were bailed out by the superstars in front of them.

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