Celta Vigo 2-2 FC Barcelona: Late punishment

FC Barcelona looked comfortably ahead by 2-0 with six minutes to play at Balaídos this Saturday, but following a manic climax, ended up with ten men on the field and having to settle for a 2-2 draw.

In a curious match, Barça were by no means dominating the football, but while Celta couldn’t make anything count, the Catalans demonstrated that it’s all about taking your chances... and both Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski did exactly that.

But the Galicians refused to throw in the towel, and immediately after Marc Casadó had received his second yellow card, they scored two goals in rapid succession to deny Barça three points that would have consolidated their place at the top of the table and gone some way to making up for the defeat at Real Sociedad in their last outing.

Ultimately, a point in Vigo is by no means a poor result, but after coming so close to three, the draw comes as huge blow to Hansi Flick, his players and the Barça community at large.

Raphinha opener

With Gavi back in the starting line-up for the first time in over a year, Barça could perhaps count themselves fortunate to be leading so comfortably so deep into the game.

Celta were on top for large swatches of the action and enjoyed no shortage of chances, but while their final passes and shooting accuracy were lacking, not to mention some particularly impressive saves from Iñaki Peña, Barça had fewer opportunities but managed to get the ball in the back of the net.

They did so twice in the first half. What would have been a lovely little goal from Lewandowski was chalked off for offside, but there was nothing wrong with Raphinha’s earlier effort that put Barça in the driving seat after 15 minutes.

Once again it was Jules Kounde supplying the ball, which the Brazilian controlled brilliantly before leaving former blaugrana man Óscar Mingueza flummoxed and slotting the ball home with an exquisite finish.

Two-goal cushion

The Galicians continued to get behind the Barça defence with worrying ease, but also continued to squander their moments, and were made to pay for their wastefulness when Lewandowski doubled the visitors’ lead.

Raphinha again foiled Mingueza in the build-up, and the Pole charged his way through the last line of the Celta defence before tucking in another goal for his swelling collection.

Still the dynamic refused to change. Celta doing most of the going forward, but to little avail, while Barça ended up coming closer to any of those efforts when Raphinha drove the ball onto the post.

Tragic finale

There had been much outrage among the Balaidos faithful when Gerard Martín wasn’t sent off for what they felt was a second bookable offence in the first half, but Hansi Flick would eventually be reduced to ten men when Marc Casadó picked up a second yellow.

The red card changed the game. Within seconds, Celta had the ball in the net. That time, the ball had gone out of play and the goal didn’t stand, but that was just the start of the mayhem.

Moments later, Kounde dallied too long on the ball in his own area and Alfon González snatched possession and got Celta back in contention. Everyone was still trying to come to terms with what was happening when Hugo Álvarez was played through and the sky blues were back level, and a man up to boot.

There were chances at both ends as Barça desperately sought to restore their lead and Celta did all they could to complete an astonishing comeback. But there would be no further scoring and it all ended in a 2-2 draw, also bringing an end to what would have been a record-equalling run of Barça games without a single tie.

All Barça can do now is pick up the pieces and start making preparations for Tuesday’s Champions League meeting with Brest. That one kicks off at 9pm CET back at the Estadi Olimpic.