Barça Blaze at Balaídos: Lewandowski’s Hat-Trick Seals a 4-2 Win Over Celta Vigo

Match Recap

Barcelona capitalized on Real Madrid’s draw with their rivals and secured a 4-2 victory away to Celta Vigo in La Liga, during the 12th round at the Balaídos stadium. The Blaugrana took advantage of the scoreboard shuffle at the top and moved a step closer to the leaders.

Polish striker Robert Lewandowski delivered a commanding performance with a hat-trick, while Lamine Yamal contributed a goal in the later stages. Sergio Carreira and Borja Iglesias replied for Celta Vigo in a competitive afternoon that showcased Barca’s attacking depth and Vigo’s resilience.

The match opened with Barcelona pressing high and seeking an early advantage. In a moment of VAR drama, a handball decision led to a penalty in the 10th minute, which Lewandowski converted to put Barca in front. Celta Vigo answered quickly, leveling in the 11th minute through Carreira, and Borja Iglesias equalized just before the break in the 43rd minute, sending the teams into halftime tied at 2-2.

After the break, Lewandowski struck again in the 37th minute, then completed his hat-trick later in the 73rd minute. Lamine Yamal added a fourth for Barca with a composed finish after a sequence of smart moves, sealing a 4-2 victory for the visitors. The match also saw Frenkie de Jong dismissed for a second yellow following a rough challenge on Iago Aspas, a moment that punctuated Barca’s day.

Lineups

Celta Vigo: Rado; Fernandez, Starfelt, Alonso, Mingueza; Sotel, Moriba, Carrera, Jutgla, Iglesias, Duran

Barcelona: Szczesny; Balde, Kobarci, Araujo, Garcia; Casado, De Jong, Fermín; Rashford, Yamal, Lewandowski

From the start, Barcelona asserted pressure, with a sharp contesting of the ball by players like Rashford and Yamal on the flanks. A sequence of chances culminated in the first goal from the resulting penalty, and the game swung into a seesaw of chances and counter-chances as both teams traded blows before the half-time whistle.

In the second half, Barca maintained control and built on their momentum, while Vigo pushed to respond. The decisive moment came with Lewandowski’s second and third goals, punctuated by Yamal’s late contribution that wrapped up a convincing performance for the visitors. The result left Barca with 28 points, three behind Madrid, and Celta Vigo stuck on 13 in the standings.

Notes – Barca’s lineup featured a mix of veteran solidity and youthful energy, while Vigo looked dangerous on the counter and set pieces. The match delivered a blend of high tempo, clinical finishing from Barcelona and spirited response from Celta Vigo.

Humor time: If football matches came with a manual, this one would be “How to turn a good 2-2 into a stylish 4-2 in 45 minutes.” And yes, the VAR replay must have asked for a day off after that heavy workload.

Punchline 1: Lewandowski walked onto the field with a sniper’s aim and left the scoreboard with three clean headshots—goal, goal, goal; the final shot was the hat-trick’s grand finale.

Punchline 2: Barca’s defense? So tight that even the grass at Balaídos filed a complaint for being offside without moving a muscle.