In a stunning turn of events that could have seismic implications for the LaLiga title race, league leaders Barcelona threw away a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Celta Vigo at Balaídos on Saturday. The Catalan giants had looked to be cruising to victory courtesy of goals from Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski, but a late Celta fightback, inspired by a red card to Marc Casadó, saw the hosts snatch an unlikely point.
The result leaves Barça just five points clear at the summit, with arch-rivals Real Madrid poised to cut the gap to a solitary point if they win their two games in hand. It’s a scenario that seemed unthinkable just a few short weeks ago, with Xavi’s men having won 11 of their first 12 league matches. But back-to-back setbacks against Real Sociedad and now Celta have dramatically altered the complexion of the title race.
Flick Fumes at ‘Really Bad’ Display
Barcelona boss Hansi Flick made no attempt to hide his frustration in the aftermath of the Balaídos collapse, delivering a scathing assessment of his team’s performance:
“Sometimes it happens that you see such a performance from a team. I [didn’t] expect that we [could] play really bad like that but it’s like this. We have to stand up and go forwards. It’s one match.”
– Hansi Flick
The German tactician suggested complacency may have crept into his squad, with the players perhaps starting to believe their own hype after such a dominant start to the campaign:
“At the end, it has to do with concentration and focus. Maybe sometimes it was too easy or they think it’s too easy to win, but it’s not easy. Everyone now wants to win against us and wants to play good against us.”
– Hansi Flick
Koundé Holds Hands Up
One of the key flashpoints in Barcelona’s capitulation was an 84th-minute mistake by defender Jules Koundé, whose sloppy back pass was seized upon by Celta for what proved to be the equalizing goal. The French international fronted up and took responsibility for his costly error:
“We weren’t at the level required for the whole game and in the end we have been punished — starting with me, because I did not have a good game. There was a lack of concentration on my part. In what should have been a simple play, I committed a huge error. That mistake has hurt us.”
– Jules Koundé
Gavi’s Bittersweet Milestone
Amidst the doom and gloom, there was one small silver lining for Barcelona – the return to the starting XI of midfield wonderkid Gavi after a year out with an ACL injury. The 19-year-old managed 75 minutes on his first start since November 2023, but his personal milestone was overshadowed by the team’s toothless display:
“I am happy to be starting for the first time in a year, but the important thing today was to get the three points and that’s not been the case. We had the game controlled, but the red card completely changed things.”
– Gavi
Lamine Yamal Absence Looms Large
Barcelona’s cause was not helped by the injury-enforced absence of teenage sensation Lamine Yamal. The 16-year-old winger, who has provided the creative spark for much of the campaign, was sorely missed as Barça struggled to break down a well-drilled Celta rearguard. Flick’s men are now winless in the three league matches Yamal has missed this term.
Title Hanging in the Balance
As the dust settles on a chastening afternoon in Vigo, Barcelona must now regroup ahead of a pivotal stretch in their season. With Real Madrid breathing down their necks and a Clásico on the horizon, Xavi and Co. can ill-afford any more slip-ups if they are to capture their first league crown since 2020. The Catalan faithful will be desperately hoping this Celta setback proves to be a mere blip, rather than the start of an all-too-familiar capitulation.
