Lewandowski’s Historic Night: Barça’s 4-2 Triumph Over Celta Vigo Sparks La Liga Talk

Match snapshot

Polish star Robert Lewandowski starred as Barcelona overcame Celta Vigo 4-2, delivering numbers and precision that will be recalled long after the final whistle. The win lifts Barça to 28 points and narrows the gap behind the league leaders, showcasing Lewandowski’s enduring prominence among Europe’s top scorers. According to Opta, the 37-year-old 80-day veteran became the third oldest La Liga player to complete a hat-trick this century.

In another note, Barcelona’s defense came under renewed pressure, conceding at least one goal in ten consecutive matches across all competitions, for a total of 18 goals in that stretch — the club’s most porous spell since March 2013 when clean sheets dried up in 13 straight games.

Key moments on the pitch

Marcus Rashford continues to impress in his first season with Barça, emerging as La Liga’s top assist provider this campaign with six assists, matching fellow Spaniard Luis Mía for the top spot and highlighting the Englishman’s offensive value in coach Hans Flick’s setup.

Barça seized the moment as the title race landscape shifted with Real Madrid’s draw against Rayo Vallecano, seizing the initiative to defeat Celta Vigo at Balaídos. Lewandowski’s tally, combined with a late effort from Lamine Yamal, sealed the result in a 4-2 triumph for the Blaugrana.

Lewandowski struck three times: a penalty at 10 minutes after a VAR review, a smart finish at 37 minutes following a Rashford pass, and another at 45+4 minutes to complete the treble. Lamine Yamal added a fourth for Barça in the 73rd minute, finishing a flowing move after a Rashford corner. For Celta Vigo, Sergio Carreira and Borja Iglesias found the net at 11 and 43 minutes respectively.

Barça’s starting lineup featured a balanced blend of experience and youth, with the home side testing the visitors’ backline through a series of rapid counters and set-piece opportunities. The match’s cadence swung several times, but Barça’s control in the final third proved decisive as the clock wound down.

With the finish in sight, Barcelona extended their lead on the standings to 28 points, three behind Real Madrid, while Celta Vigo sat on 13 points in 13th place. The result reinforced Barça’s status as a title challenger, even as questions linger about defensive stability ahead of upcoming fixtures.

In the closing minutes, there were a few contentious moments and tense exchanges, but the final whistle confirmed Barça’s deserved victory as they maintained momentum into the next round.

Punchline 1: If clocking up a hat-trick were a rifle, Lewandowski just filed for a five-year extension on the scoreboard. Punchline 2: Barça’s defense might want a larger helmet — not for the headgear, but to shield the stat sheets from reality-check shots.