Barcelona thumps Celta Vigo 5-0, keeps La Liga lead

 

Barcelona 5-0 Celta Vigo: Lionel Messi scores brace as Luis Enrique's side romp to victory and leapfrog Real Madrid to the top of La Liga

Lionel Messi scored the first goal on 24 minutes and then mimicked making a telephone call as part of his goal celebration – perhaps he was calling UEFA. Last week the game's European governing body gave Barca a 0% chance of progressing to the Champions League quarter-finals. It's true that no-one has ever overturned a 4-0 first leg defecit and Barcelona have a mountain to climb against Paris Saint-Germain, but they have Messi and with Messi anything is possible. The supporters certainly think so, they were singing: 'Yes we can' by the time the fifth goal went in. This 5-0 win was special from Messi and special from Barcelona who have now scored 11 goals in four days and sit back on top of the Spanish first division albeit having played a game more than Real Madrid.

The rout could easily have started earlier when both Suarez and Messi hit the post in the space of seconds on 18 minutes.

Suarez surged past Gustavo Cabral and hit the foot of the right upright. And from a more difficult angle as the ball came back out to him, Messi hit the same spot on the same post.

Barcelona should then have had a penalty three minutes later when Neymar was chopped down by Hugo Mallo. The spot-kick wasn't given but it didn't matter because Messi was about to conjure the first goal.

He picked the ball up midway inside Celta's half. Not content with starting his run from there he carried the ball back the edge of the centre-circle then turned and went for the Celta juglular wriggling through the centre of their defence. With Cabral and Sergi Gomez left flailing, he curled a shot inside Sergio Alvarez' far post.

It was his 37th goal of the season in just 37 games but it was only the beginning.

It should have been two when Rafinha cut in from the right but he failed to beat Alvarez. When he looked up he had Messi, Neymar and Suarez all staring him down having been in space for a pass – an image he might take some time to wipe from his memory.

The second goal was not long in coming. And it was every bit as special as the first. Messi fed Rakitic and he returned the pass. Messi then played an angled pass into Neymar's path and the Brazilian applied the most delicate of touches to chip it over the head of Alvarez and send it curling with one bounce over the line. 

No one does artistic impression better than Neymar and he was at it again 13 minutes into the second half when he set up Rakitic for the third.

The Brazilian crossed from the left, Rafinha got a touch in the area and Rakitic sent a low drive through the goalkeeper's legs.

Umtiti was the next on the scoresheet poking the ball home from inside the six-yard box from a Messi cross. It was his first goal for the club and his Barcelona team-mates queued up to congratulate him – of the raft of summer signings he is the one who has made a first team place his own.

Messi got his second with Barcelona's next attack. He carried the ball down the right, cut inside, and despite the best efforts of Facundo Roncaglia and Cabral drilled his shot through the legs of the latter and past Alvarez.

With 20 minutes left Iniesta came on – as if Celta hadn't suffered enough - but the captain did not exert himself. The three points were won and all attention now turns to Wednesday. 

Messi and company are in the mood to either go through with a miraculous comeback, or at least go out of the Champions League making everyone wish they were not.

Celta Vigo 2-4 Real Madrid: Hernandez the hero again

http://www.goal.com/en/match/celta-de-vigo-vs-real-madrid/1821993/report

The Mexico striker scored the winner in Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final second leg victory over Atletico Madrid and scored twice on Sunday night in La Liga.

Javier Hernandez was Real Madrid's hero for the second time in a week as his two goals helped Carlo Ancelotti's side come from behind to beat Celta Vigo 4-2.

The Mexico striker netted the crucial winner in Real's 1-0 defeat over Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie on Wednesday and was decisive again on Sunday night.

Former Barca winger Nolito opened the scoring for Celta with a fine individual effort early on, though any 

celebrations in the Catalan capital will have been short-lived as Toni Kroos quickly equalised.

Hernandez, again playing in place of the injured Karim Benzema, put the visitors ahead, but their risky high defensive line allowed Santi Mina to score his fifth goal in three games before the half-hour mark.

James Rodriguez's deflected effort just before the break gave Real the lead once again, though the second half proved a serious assessment of their credentials, as the visiting defence withstood periods of intense pressure.

Nevertheless, Hernandez coolly stroked home the winner with 21 minutes to go, sparing Ancelotti's blushes once again as Madrid avoided a repeat of last season's crucial slip-up at Balaidos which ended their title hopes.

A repeat of that result had been on the cards as Celta's positive start was rewarded with just nine minutes played. Nolito brilliantly slalomed between Dani Carvajal and Asier Illarramendi before cutting in from the left flank and tucking a shot just inside the left-hand post.

But the visitors' reply was swift as they restored parity just seven minutes later.

Cristiano Ronaldo caused havoc in the Celta backline with a darting run into the right side of the area and Kroos was on hand to steer home in emphatic fashion from 12 yards despite Hugo Mallo's initial interception.

Hernandez completed the turnaround in the 24th minute, placing a cool finish under Sergio Alvarez after combining with Rodriguez down the right to devastating effect.

But Celta rallied and hit back within a few moments, as Mina raced beyond the Madrid defence and finished at the second attempt after hitting the post when running in on Iker Casillas' goal.

Ancelotti's side's chances of retaking the lead before the break seemed to end with Ronaldo striking the post in the 40th minute, but luck was on their side with their next attack when Rodriguez found the net from 20 yards via a deflection off Andreu Fontas.

Celta enjoyed victory at Barcelona in November and showed no sign of holding back. And their attacking endeavour could well have been rewarded with a penalty shortly before the hour mark when Kroos tripped Fabian Orellana in the box.

However, Madrid were happy to hit the hosts on the counter and Sergio Ramos' exquisite chipped pass released Hernandez to clinically beat Alvarez to cap a fine week individually and seal a result which keeps their hopes of winning La Liga alive.

Athletic Club beat Celta de Vigo

Celta Vigo 1-2 Athletic Bilbao: Los Leones roar back into the top 10

Athletic Club Bilbao seem to have finally found the form they’ve been missing throughout the entire season but face a Celta Vigo side who are firing at will and waiting for the goals to start pouring in again.

Celta Vigo hadn’t beaten Athletic Bilbao in Balaidos since March 2003 and the Basque side were determined to continue that streak.

Celta controlled possession through the first 15 minutes of the match but it would all quickly come falling apart as Augusto Fernandez brought down Iker Muniain in the penalty area, giving Athletic a penalty, which Aritz Aduriz converted to put his side up early.

Athletic could smell blood in the water as Aduriz went back several minutes later forcing Sergio to make a tremendous save and De Marcos forcing the issue a bit later on.

Celta’s Larrivey would try a header, but it Athletic held the momentum and scored their second goal of the evening in the 31st minute, a brilliant effort by the in-form Mikel San Jose to score Aduriz’s rebound.

Celta would attempt to recover and regain their composure, but were unable to put Athletic in danger going into the break.

Athletic came roaring out the gates to start the second half and tested Celta early, but the Galicians would soon turn the game in their favour with Larrivey scoring in the 63rd minute to get back in the game.

However, Celta were unable to overcome a motivated Athletic side and despite San Jose getting sent off with two yellow cards in the 85th minute, Ernesto Valverde’s side came away with three points and climbed back into the top half of the table for the first time this season.

Bueno lifts Rayo Vallecano past Celta de Vigo 1-0

Vallecano hold on for Celta victory

Alberto Bueno scored the only goal to give Rayo Vallecano a 1-0 win over Celta Vigo on Sunday.

Bueno's 20th-minute strike was enough to halt a three-game losing run and end Vigo's four-match unbeaten streak.

Bueno must share the match-winning honours with keeper Cristian Alvarez, though. Time and again he denied Celta's attacks, with his display enough to leave the visitors feeling as though it was a game they should have won.

The international break had done little to halt Celta's positive attitude and they were quick out of the blocks, Augusto Fernandez having a shot blocked before two minutes were up.

They continued to go forward and Joaquin Larrivey shot wide before the home side came into the game.

Roberto Trashorras had a volley saved by Sergio Alvarez and the goal arrived with 20 on the clock as Gael Kakuta's cross was met by Bueno, who nodded in from six yards.

Vigo looked to hit straight back, Alex Lopez being denied by Alvarez while they went even closer when Michael Krohn-Delhi thumped one into the post from the edge of the box. Fernandez was quick to the follow-up but was denied by an inspired Alvarez.

That sequence of play transferred into the second half with Alvarez keeping out Jonny and then pushing a right-footer from Fernandez behind. From the resulting corner Gustavo Cabral cracked a header against the bar and it was becoming apparent that this was not the visitors' day.

They continued to go forward, though, Fabian Orellana hitting wide and Cabral off target when a corner fell to him, but in the end they were unable to find a way through.

Celta de Vigo dealt Barcelona its second straight loss 1-0

Celta Vigo topple Catalan giants Barca at home

Luis Suarez's Nou Camp debut turned into a Halloween nightmare for Barcelona as they were beaten 1-0 by coach Luis Enrique's former side Celta Vigo.

The Catalan giants had nine shots on target and hit the woodwork three times, but the game was decided by Joaquin Larrivey's strike in the 55th minute - dealing Barca a first home defeat since January.

The result was a second straight loss in La Liga for Luis Enrique's side following last weekend's Clasico reverse at the Bernabeu, and meant Barca also surrendered top spot to their arch rivals following Real Madrid's 4-0 win at Granada earlier on Saturday.

Luis Enrique made three changes to the team that lost in the capital last Saturday, recalling Jordi Alba, Rafinha and Ivan Rakitic in place of an injured Andres Iniesta, Xavi and Gerard Pique, who was left out of the squad.

Barca had a couple of early chances, with Neymar heading at goal and then rattling the bar from the corner of the penalty area, but then Celta settled into the game, spending a large period in the Barca half, with Nolito firing wide and Pablo Hernandez's header forcing a save from Claudio Bravo.

The hosts came back at their opponents, though, and Lionel Messi could have scored on three occasions in a matter of minutes.

His first-time effort was punched away at the near post by the brilliant Celta goalkeeper Sergio Alvarez; the Argentinian then rounded the visiting stopper but saw his effort slid onto the bar by Jonny Castro; and a couple of minutes later he headed over from eight yards out.

There was still time for more attempts before the break, with Alvarez diving low to keep out efforts from Suarez and then Neymar.

Barca continued their relentless attacking in the second half, Neymar clipping the bar again after a cut-back from Alba.

But Celta managed to quell the assault, and, on 55 minutes, stunned the Nou Camp. The goal originated from a long punt upfield by Alvarez, headed into the path of Nolito. The former Barcelona player outmuscled Dani Alves and Sergio Busquets to flick the ball to Larrivey, who side-footed into the bottom corner.

Barca struggled to respond immediately, but, helped by the appearance of Xavi and Pedro Rodriguez from the bench, laid siege to the Celta goal in the the final 20 minutes.

Suarez headed straight at Alvarez from 10 yards out, Messi clipped the upright from a free-kick and then Alvarez produced another excellent save from the Uruguay striker.

Celta could also have scored again, substitute Charles heading over from inside the area after Bravo had saved from Nolito.

Celta de Vigo extend Athletic Bilbao's woes 1-1

Celta Vigo swipe a point from Athletico Bilbao to stay sixth in La Liga

Celta Vigo striker Nolito scored midway through the second half to end Athletic Club's hopes of halting a winless run which now stretches to seven games.

Ernesto Valverde's Primera Division strugglers had made a dream start when Aritz Aduriz put them in front from the penalty spot with just six minutes on the clock.

But Nolito's 73rd minute effort salvaged a 1-1 draw for Celta who were keen to respond to their 3-1 home defeat to Villarreal in their last match prior to the international break.

The home side did not need to wait long to edge in front after Sergi Gomez handled in the box and referee David Fernandez pointed to the spot.

Aduriz stepped up to fire the penalty past Sergio Alvarez in the Celta goal and Athletic could have doubled their lead when Markel Susaeta shot just wide six minutes later.

Alvarez kept his side in the game as he made a fine save from Susaeta on 15 minutes then five minutes later tipped an Aymeric Laporte header round the post.

The visitors failed to pose any kind of threat to Gorka Iraizoz's goal in the first period and Athletic stayed on top in the second half as an Oscar De Marcos header drifted just wide.

Aduriz shot just wide again before the hosts were made to pay for their missed chances as Celta drew level midway through the second period.

Nolito pounced to fire home a right-foot effort from 12 yards after being played in by Fabian Orellana on the left.

The same player fired over the bar with six minutes left while Athletic's best late chance came from an Ibai free-kick which sailed into the arms of the impressive Alvarez.

Celta de Vigo held Atletico Madrid to a draw 2-2

Pablo Hernandez celebrates after scoring a volley

Atlético held by impressive Celta Vigo

Atletico Madrid’s stuttering start to the season continued with a 2-2 draw against a spirited and impressive Celta Vigo side at the Vicente Calderon.

Despite the derby win over Real Madrid last week Diego Simeone’s side have struggled to build momentum, demonstrated by the Champions League defeat to Olympiakos during the week.

And the Spanish league champions failed to bounce back from that result, as they came up against a Celta Vigo side that dominated large spells of the game at the Vicente Calderon.

Celta Vigo took the lead in surreal fashion, when Pablo Hernandez languidly stuck out a leg to meet a lobbed cross into the box, directing the ball into the net with the back of his heel.

However, Atletico struck back through Miranda, who flicked a Koke freekick past Sergio Alvarez in the Celta Vigo net.

And the champions claimed the lead before the break when Diego Godin powered home a header having leapt so much higher than anyone else from a corner kick.

But Celta Vigo refused to relinquish the contest and levelled the score themselves from the penalty spot, after Miranda’s reckless challenge on Carles Planas, with Nolito converting comfortably to make it 2-2.