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Celta de Vigo condemned Barcelona to their first loss of the La Liga season with a dominant display that saw the former win by a convincing margin of 4-1. Iago Aspas scored a brace as Barcelona suffered a loss by three goals for the first time since May 2008.
The first chance of the game fell for Iago Aspas who found himself through on goal after the ball ricocheted to him, but the 28-year-old went for a cross when he should have had a shot on goal and the chance were a begging. Barcelona were finding it difficult to get out of their own half as Iniesta and Busquets were struggling to get on the ball to create any attacking menace.
Aspas had another opportunity within the first ten minutes as he took a ball drilled low and hard well, but his shot lacked the sting and the precision to beat Ter Stegen. Barcelona had to wait till the 10th minute to create their first chance and it came through an Iniesta through ball, that fount Messi on the run in the penalty area. The Argentine’s shot was hit straight at the keeper who kept it out for his defence to clear.
Messi then went on a mazy run beating a couple of players before playing in Neymar, whose first-time shot was straight at the keeper, who was able to divert the ball out for a corner. As the clock hit 20 minutes, the game settled into a familiar routine with Barcelona maintaining possession but were not given any room by the Celta players.
Celta’s persistence was soon rewarded as Nolito was left unmarked in the 18-yard-box. The 28-year-old made no mistake as he curled the ball beautifully into the far corner to hand Os Celticos the lead with Barcelona’s German keeper stranded.
Celta doubled their lead four minutes later
Four minutes later Celta doubled their lead when Aspas broke free one-on-one with the Barcelona keeper after Gerard Pique played himself into trouble. The former Liverpool striker wasn’t going to let his third chance of the match go by as he chipped a helpless Ter Stegan.
The score could have been worse for as Nolito broke into the box after Celta opted to take a corner short. Nolito breaking into the box found Sergi Gomez, who was unable to keep his shot on target.
On the other end, Neymar created space for himself in the penalty area but his shot was well blocked by Augusto Fernandez. As the game approached half-time, Celta Vigo looked well worth their lead.
Barcelona came out for the second half running as Neymar tried his luck from distance, but his shot was well wide of his target. Celta, on the other hand, were looking menacing on th break with Aspas missing a great chance to triple Celta’s lead.
Andres Iniesta showcased his brilliance as he drove into the penalty area and put the ball on the plate for Messi. The four-time Ballon d'Or winner, with half the goal empty, for once misses as his shot hits the post and Iniesta was unable to convert the rebound.
A couple of minutes Aspas made Messi regret the miss when he clipped the ball over an onrushing Pique to go one-on-one with the keeper again. Aspas kept his cool and calmly slot the ball into the net to treble the trouble for the Catalan side.
Soon after the third goal, Luis Enrique brought on Munir to replace Sergi Roberto. Neymar had a great chance to pull one back soon after but the Brazillian was not able to keep his shot on target.
Barcelona get a goal back
Barcelona kept trying to get a goal back with Neymar and Munir testing Sergio Alvarez but found the Spanish shot-stopper for the challenge every time. Luis Enrique took off Busquets and replaced him with Ivan Rakitic as the Champions looked for a goal.
Barcelona did get a goal to their name as a result of a brilliant long ball by Messi in the path of Neymar and the latter made no mistake as he rounded the keeper and decreased the deficit for the Spanish Champions.
Celta, however, restored a three-goal lead within three minutes when John Guidetti coolly passed the ball into the net. With that goal, Barcelona’s challenge fell apart as Celta celebrated a famous win against their more illustrious opponents.
