Barcelona pulled off a shocking comeback from two targets all the way down to beat Celta Vigo 4-3 on Saturday and transfer seven factors away from Actual Madrid within the La Liga title race.
The Catalans trailed 3-1 inside the ultimate half-hour after a Borja Iglesias hat-trick for the guests, however Dani Olmo scored after which Raphinha equalised earlier than he snatched victory with a 98th minute penalty to grab three important factors for the leaders.
Reigning champions Actual Madrid, second, host Athletic Bilbao on Sunday, with a Clasico showdown nonetheless to return in Could.
“This angle, this mentality of not giving up, is absolutely nice to see… we tried every part to get the three factors and we did it,” Barcelona coach Hansi Flick advised reporters.
Nevertheless Flick mentioned striker Robert Lewandowski wanted checks after coming off with an obvious hamstring downside, making him a doubt for the Copa del Rey ultimate subsequent weekend towards rivals Actual Madrid, and placing a query mark over his involvement within the Champions League semi-final towards Inter Milan.
“From my expertise we wait till tomorrow (and the checks),” mentioned Flick, who didn’t need to rule out the membership’s prime scorer too rapidly.
The coach, who railed towards his crew’s intense schedule on Friday, rested teenage star Lamine Yamal for the primary time in 2025, though he was later wanted from the bench after Iglesias’ treble.
The Catalans took the lead after 12 minutes when Ferran Torres strolled into house and with the defence standing off, drilled previous Vicente Guaita from the sting of the field.
Celta Vigo swiftly hit again, skewering Barcelona’s excessive line of defense three minutes later with Pablo Duran crossing for Iglesias to roll dwelling.
Celta, eighth and in rivalry for European soccer subsequent season, have been discovering loads of pleasure going ahead.
Claudio Giraldez’s crew took the lead early within the second half after a mistake by Frenkie de Jong allowed Iglesias to drive a low effort past the attain of Wojciech Szczesny.
With Barcelona on the assault Celta hit them once more with Iglesias galloping by and firing dwelling with ease.
Impressed by substitutes Yamal and Olmo, Barcelona battled again.
Raphinha nudged a move by for Olmo to beat Guaita and rouse the Olympic stadium crowd from its stupor.
4 minutes later the Brazilian winger scored himself, heading dwelling as Yamal crossed from the appropriate.
Barcelona have been awarded a penalty deep in damage timewhen Olmo was clumsily clattered from behind by Yoel Lago.
Raphinha took duty and hammered into the top-right nook to earn his crew a dramatic and probably very important victory.
“That is soccer, we actually wished to win, perhaps we weren’t at our greatest (earlier within the sport) however the response from the crew, and the followers pushed us on… we deserved it,” Olmo advised DAZN.
Later Saturday Javi Munoz’s 93rd-minute strike earned Las Palmas an essential 1-0 La Liga win over Atletico Madrid, hammering one other nail into the coffin of the Rojiblancos’ title ambitions.
Diego Simeone’s facet, third, now path leaders Barcelona by 10 factors.
Atletico’s season is just about over and though the coach insisted his crew would combat till the top for La Liga, their possibilities of mounting a comeback are subsequent to none.
“They hit it lengthy in desperation and located a purpose… (however) it is true that we weren’t correct, we did not have an excellent sport,” Atletico midfielder Koke advised Movistar.
“Their goalkeeper made a few good saves and it is onerous to elucidate what occurred at present.
“We have now to proceed, clearly understanding La Liga is nearly inconceivable and we have now to organize for what’s to return.”
Victory helped Las Palmas climb provisionally seventeenth, out of the relegation zone and two factors away from Alaves, who face Sevilla on Sunday.
Las Palmas goalkeeper Dinko Horkas made excellent saves to disclaim Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth, earlier than Munoz struck late to win it for the hosts.
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