When Olmo shifts gears and Lewandowski shines: Barca stun Vigo 4-2 with a hat-trick encore

Match Recap

Dani Olmo, Barcelona’s rising star, expressed his complete satisfaction after a vital 4-2 victory over Celta Vigo. He revealed that he had to operate in a less familiar midfield position because Marc Casado was not fully fit at the last moment, yet the main objective—secure three points before the international break—was achieved.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Olmo started at Balaídos due to Casado’s muscular issue during warmups, which pushed him into a slightly deeper midfield role than usual.

Despite the last‑minute positional shift, the Spaniard delivered a balanced performance and contributed effectively to Barca’s hard-earned away win.

After the match Olmo said, “Of course we prefer this feeling; it’s a win, and that was our goal today. The team played well, especially in the first half when we dominated possession. It’s true that Celta pressed a bit in the second half, but we left with the target achieved—the three points.”

He also noted that Celta Vigo dominated more possession after the break, but Barca defended well and neutralized their pressure.

Explaining his surprise start replacing Casado, Olmo added, “Things happened quickly; Marc felt some muscle discomfort during warmups, so I had to start.”

Olmo also applauded his teammate, Polish striker Robert Lewandowski, who stole the show with a hat-trick on his return to the starting lineup, stressing the veteran’s decisive role in the victory.

“Robert is a very important player for the squad, and he showed it today. We’ll need him 100% throughout the season because he gives us a lot,” Olmo said, before stressing that Barca’s objective remains the same—win—especially as Real Madrid’s draw narrowed the gap at the top.

Match Scenario

Barça began with early pressure on the hosts. In the 3rd minute, Marcus Rashford showcased his skill on the left and forced Mingueza into a foul near the edge of the box. A minute later, Lewandowski tried to convert a rebound but couldn’t find the net.

Celta reacted quickly in the 5th minute when Duran cut in and tested the goalkeeper, but the ball stayed out before Baldi cleared on the line as the referee signaled for an offside. Barça sought to control the tempo and in the 7th minute Manuel Fernandez made a sharp block to deny Olmo after a Jong through ball.

The action continued with a VAR check in the 8th minute for a potential handball by Alonso; after review, a penalty was awarded in the 9th minute and converted by Lewandowski in the 10th, giving Barca the lead on his return.

Celta didn’t retreat and in the 11th minute, Radu saved a dangerous Rashford run, and shortly after Barca hit back—Carreira canceled out the early advantage with a goal on the break.

Jutgla nearly doubled Barca’s lead in the 13th minute with a powerful shot from outside the area, but it went over the bar. Borja Iglesias also had a chance in the 15th-minute offside scare.

In the 16th minute, Iglesias struck from midfield with a bold attempt, but Chizni recovered quickly to deny a spectacular strike. The half saw continued back-and-forth, but the cleanest chances belonged to Barcelona, including Rashford’s post in the 24th minute and Lewandowski’s brace two minutes before halftime when he headed in a cross from Rashford after a well-worked counter, lifting Barca to a 3-1 lead at the break.

Second half began with Celta pushing for a comeback—pressure from Durán and Gutiérrez tested Barca’s defense—but the Catalans held firm. In the 53rd minute, Eric Garcia drew controversy with a foul on Durán, though no card materialized.

Barça remained dangerous on the break, and in the 67th minute Lewandowski nearly completed his hat-trick when his shot was blocked on the line. In the 73rd minute, Rashford delivered a precise corner that Lewandowski headed home for a spectacular hat-trick, sealing the scoring for Barca and sending the away end into celebration.

Late on, Aspas argued with the referee over a foul in the 76th minute, but the decision stood. The match ended 4-2 to Barcelona, a deserved triumph that also saw Frenkie de Jong dismissed after a late aggressive challenge on Aspar, forcing him to miss the next league game against Athletic Bilbao.

Overall, Barca controlled the closing 15 minutes and held on for a win that tightens their grip at the top as the league calendar resumes.

Punchline time: If Olmo’s positional swap was a sniper shot, the ball found its target—with the defender left looking for a sense of direction. Punchline two: Lewandowski’s hat-trick proves you don’t need magic when you have a rocket—three goals, zero wand-waving required.