Celta Vigo 2-4 Barcelona: Lewandowski hat-trick sets up six-goal thriller in LaLiga – Football News

Robert Lewandowski’s hat-trick helped Barcelona secure a thrilling 4-2 victory over Celta Vigo to move Real Madrid three points clear at the top of LaLiga.

After seeing their title rivals draw 0-0 against Rayo Vallecano earlier on Sunday, Hansi Flick’s side took the opportunity to close the gap at the top, although they were pushed hard by Celta and ended the match with ten players after Frenkie de Jong was sent off four minutes into second-half stoppage time.

Lewandowski put Barca ahead from the penalty spot in the 10th minute after Marcos Alonso was penalized for handball in his own area following a VAR review.

But Celta leveled within less than two minutes when Sergio Carreira rounded Wojciech Szczesny and tapped in after being played through on goal by Borja Iglesias.

Marcus Rashford fired onto the woodwork as Barca got back on top, and their lead was restored when the Manchester United loanee provided a precise cross for Lewandowski to tap home in the 37th minute.

Celta quickly leveled again through a powerful finish from Iglesias, but Barcelona went into half-time 3-2 down, with Ionut Radu failing to keep out Lamine Yamal’s strike despite getting the ball at his near post with both hands.

There was less goal action in the second half as Barcelona dominated possession, and they got their insurance goal through Lewandowski, who tapped home another Rashford throw with 17 minutes to play to seal the match.

Yamal also hit the post after making a late one-on-one breakthrough, leaving Barca to finish the match with 10 men when De Jong received his second yellow card for a careless foul from behind on Iago Aspas.

While Barcelona are hot on the heels of Madrid at the top of the table, Celta are in 13th place, having won just two of 12 matches despite drawing seven.

Data debrief: Lewandowski and Rashford lead the way

Since making his LaLiga debut for Barcelona in 2022, Lewandowski has scored 75 goals in the Spanish top flight.

The only player to score more times in one of Europe’s top five leagues in that period is Erling Haaland, with 99 Premier League goals (Harry Kane also has 75 in the Bundesliga).

Rashford was the scorer of two of Lewandowski’s goals, and his six assists in LaLiga this season are now the most of any player, alongside Getafe’s Luis Milla.