Barcelona have received a 7th consecutive La Liga recreation and can end the weekend best of the desk for the second directly week because of a hard-fought 1-0 win over Celta Vigo at the Spotify Camp Nou on Sunday night time. Barça performed rather well for the primary 20 mins and scored their simplest objective of the sport via Pedri, and the remainder of the night time used to be about survival because the Blaugrana forgot tips on how to play and needed to face massive power from an excellent Celta aspect that deserved at least some degree from the fit.
FIRST HALF
Barça made a very good begin to the sport, dominating ownership and shifting the ball temporarily backward and forward and discovering areas between the traces. They additionally pressed top and defended with just right depth, profitable the ball in unhealthy positions and forcing Celta goalkeeper Agustin Marchesín to make 3 giant saves within the first quarter-hour.
The Blaugrana deserved a objective for his or her early efforts, and so they were given it within the seventeenth minute: Jordi Alba made a super lengthy go to seek out Gavi, who had his pass poorly cleared by way of Unai Núñez and Pedri used to be fast to the ball to score a very simple opener.
The home workforce persevered to have ownership however their ranges dropped for the remainder of the half of, and Barça have been not able to create any threat within the ultimate 25 mins. The assault used to be gradual and predictable, and each Ferran Torres and Robert Lewandowski struggled to get entangled within the motion.
Only Raphinha used to be an actual risk within the entrance 3, and the Brazilian had a sound shout for a penalty when he used to be tackled by way of Javi Galán throughout the field. But each the referee and VAR unnoticed his court cases, and Barça have been denied a possibility to double their lead.
Despite their problems offensively Barça have been disciplined and protected at the again, and Marc-André ter Stegen by no means had to make a very powerful intervention for the home workforce. Celta had a few half-chances, however in fact the Catalans’ protection used to be by no means in hassle.
At halftime Barça have been on best and must have scored greater than only one objective after beginning so neatly, however had a slim lead and nonetheless had to end the task within the second half of.
SECOND HALF
Barça made an terrible begin to the second half of, not able to stay hang of the ball and smash the Celta press and shedding the ball in very unhealthy spots which gave the guests giant possibilities to equalize.
Óscar Rodríguez had the 2 absolute best alternatives of the sport, however neglected the objective at the first and noticed the second blocked at the line by way of Marcos Alonso. Celta have been obviously the most productive workforce 20 mins into the length, and Barça had to strengthen.
Xavi Hernández made a triple alternate with Ansu Fati, Ousmane Dembélé and Frenkie de Jong all coming off the bench to check out and build up the standard of Barça’s attacking play, however issues didn’t alternate within the first short time after the substitutions and Celta persevered to assault and pin the Blaugrana in their very own ultimate 3rd.
The guests in the end discovered the again of the online within the seventieth minute with a header from Jorgen Larsen, however Javi Galán used to be offside at the beginning of the play and the objective used to be accurately disallowed. Barça were given away with every other one, and so they truly wanted a second objective.
They couldn’t even create an actual probability to get a second, so the general 10 mins have been all about survival for Barça as Celta despatched everybody ahead and persevered to threaten and create possibilities.
Ter Stegen used to be very busy, creating a sensational point-blank save in opposition to Iago Aspas and getting his palms on numerous balls to stay Barça from conceding. Celta saved on making use of power and the equalizer felt like a walk in the park within the ultimate seconds, however Barça by hook or by crook discovered a solution to grasp directly to the lead and the general whistle got here to provide all of them 3 issues.
This used to be every other dangerous efficiency after the global smash and there’s little or no reason why to consider this workforce forward of the huge video games in opposition to Inter Milan and Real Madrid subsequent week. But the workforce confirmed nice resilience and by hook or by crook discovered a solution to win this one, and that perspective may lend a hand them if they are able to determine tips on how to play soccer once more.
Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Balde (Roberto 77’), Piqué, Alonso, Alba (Eric 86’); Pedri (De Jong 63’), Busquets, Gavi; Raphinha (Dembélé 63’), Lewandowski, Ferran (Ansu Fati 63’)
Goal: Pedri (17’)
Celta Vigo: Marchesín; Mallo (Mingueza 90+3’), Aidoo, Núñez, Galán; Beltrán; Cervi (Paciência 84’), Veiga (Solari 75’), Rodríguez; Aspas, Larsen (Pérez 75’)
Goals: None