Barcelona collapse in Celta draw without Yamal

Barcelona collapse in Celta draw without Yamal

BeSoccer 8 months ago 2.6k |

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Hansi Flick saw his Barcelona side throw away a two-goal lead at Celta Vigo. AFP

La Liga leaders Barcelona suffered a dramatic collapse in a 2-2 draw at Celta Vigo on Saturday with coach Hansi Flick saying his team played a "really bad" match.

Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski's goals put the Catalans in a healthy position but Marc Casado's red card in the 82nd minute helped Celta start the fightback to snatch a point. Alfonso Gonzalez capitalised on a Jules Kounde error to pull a goal back before Hugo Alvarez levelled two minutes later.

Barcelona have won 11 league games this season but this became the third they have failed to take three points from without teenage winger Lamine Yamal.

Flick said he would challenge his side to win without the injured 17-year-old wing wizard and it seemed they were managing it until their spectacular late crumble.

Barcelona are five points clear of Atletico Madrid at the top of La Liga, with champions Real Madrid, third, playing on Sunday at Leganes. "It was a really bad match from us, it was nothing like what we want to see," said Flick. "That was not like we normally play football."

November 24, 2024

Barca midfielder Gavi made his first start in over a year after recovering from a severe knee injury. "We had the game under control but the red card had a big impact on us and they scored two goals in two moves and we have to learn from that," Gavi told DAZN.

Raphinha opened the scoring in the 15th minute after Kounde lofted a ball forward. Lewandowski had a goal disallowed before he stroked home Barcelona's second, the 36-year-old striker's 15th league goal of the campaign, further extending his lead as La Liga's top scorer.

Inaki Pena made a handful of saves for Barcelona, denying Hugo Alvarez with his leg. Raphinha then hit the post after being sent through - a costly miss as the Catalans were reduced to 10 men after 82 minutes when Casado picked up his second yellow.

It restored Celta's belief and moments later they pulled one back when Kounde dallied on the ball and Gonzalez picked his pocket and finished past Pena. Two minutes later Alvarez levelled for Celta as Barcelona collapsed, cutting in from the right and finishing clinically to snatch a point.

"We found ourselves with that red card and the (first) goal, and then the second came, it's inexplicable," said a delighted Alvarez.

November 23, 2024