Robert Lewandowski scored a hat trick to help Barcelona beat Celta Vigo 4-2 on Sunday in La Liga and cut Real Madrid’s lead to three points.
The veteran Polish striker’s hat trick helped Hansi Flick’s side take advantage of Real Madrid’s earlier 0-0 draw at Rayo Vallecano.
Teenager Lamine Yamal also scored for Barcelona in another exciting match produced by the champions’ attacking approach, and Marcus Rashford provided two more assists. Frenkie de Jong was sent off late in the game for Barça after receiving a second yellow card, but by then the champions had already secured their victory.
Flick insisted that Barcelona would not change their style despite some recent difficulties, including a 3-3 draw with Club Brugge in the Champions League on Wednesday, and this led to a frantic first half.
The champions took the lead through a Lewandowski penalty in the 10th minute after Marcos Alonso handled Fermín López’s shot, but Celta equalized a minute later. Rashford missed a one-on-one opportunity after being set up by López, and Celta countered to score.
The Galicians took advantage of Barcelona’s high defensive line, sending Sergio Carreira running behind and remaining calm to beat Wojciech Szczesny.
Without Pedri, Raphinha and Joan Garcia, among other injured players, Flick asked his team to show more fight in their absence and they looked more energetic at Balaídos.
Ilaix Moriba blocked López’s shot, Rashford deflected the rebound against the post and Celta goalkeeper Ionut Radu denied Lewandowski from close range while following the play.
Looking to be back at his best, Lewandowski got his second goal thanks to an inviting cross from Rashford to put Barça back in front in the 37th minute. His shot slipped under Radu, who could have done better.
Celta responded quickly again, this time through Borja Iglesias, who fired a rocket over Szczesny and into the net from the edge of the area two minutes before halftime.
However, Barça went into halftime with the lead when Rashford’s deflected cross found young star Yamal, who beat Radu at his near post.
It stabilized
Both teams were more settled in the second half, with far fewer chances compared to the frantic first period. Barcelona dominated possession, and Celta, despite being behind, were forced to retreat.
Lewandowski completed his hat trick with a header from Rashford’s corner after 73 minutes to give his team a two-goal cushion.
It was the striker’s seventh league goal in just four starts, showing that his finishing quality has not diminished at 37 years old despite an injury-plagued start to the season.
Rashford, on loan from Manchester United, has helped fill in for the injured Raphinha, providing seven assists in La Liga. Yamal broke free and could have scored Barça’s fifth late on, but his low shot hit the post after beating Radu.
On a negative note for Barça, De Jong was sent off in stoppage time for a second yellow card after stepping on Iago Aspas’ foot.
Barcelona’s victory followed a run of just two away wins in their last 10 league games at Balaídos and gave Flick and his players a confidence boost ahead of the upcoming international break.