Barça scuttles against Celta after leading by two goals

To say that this Barça depends on a 17-year-old player would be a bit of an exaggeration, but this evening's meeting at least allowed us to measure with a little more precision his influence and his impact in this team, quite simply irreplaceable (the Barça have lost 8 points this season, each time when Yamal did not play). Already out of the Catalans' defeat against Real Sociedad (0-1) thirteen days ago due to an ankle injury, Lamine Yamal, his carefreeness and his flashes, were once again missed by this Barcelona team, this time against Celta de Vigo. Fortunately, Raphinha still does not seem to have decided to come down from his little cloud, and as often since August, the Brazilian carried his team, until they ruined everything in five minutes flat (2-2). From the 15th minute of play, however, the ex-Rennais put his team into orbit. He ridiculed Mingueza, guilty of a gross error of interpretation on a pass from Koundé, and adjusted Guaita with his left foot (0-1).

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The Catalan captain confirmed a general impression since the start of the season in Spain: that of a player at his zenith, who succeeds in everything, and today among the best in the world in his position. We say “at his position”, because the Brazilian cannot do everything either, like defending in place of Gerard Martin. Established at left back this evening, the player trained at Masia wandered for a long time like a lost soul in this meeting. He could (should) have cost his team a penalty for a mover's intervention in the 27th minute, then be sent off for a second yellow card for this sweeping tackle on Aspas, mad with rage against the refereeing ( 43rd). With Pena's multiple saves, like this powerful volley from Moriba (19th), the Spaniard had many other reasons to show his frustration…

Barça ruined everything

On the Catalan side, Lewandowski could also ruminate on his work in the 41st minute, namely a dive ball of which he alone holds the secret to deceive Guaita, but his goal was therefore refused for offside. It was also the biggest Catalan situation of this first act, even if it preceded another attempt, this time from Olmo – very discreet -, but captured by Guaita. At the break, seeing Celta hold off the best team in Europe would not have had the appearance of a hold-up that one might have attributed to it in the pre-match. Flick was aware of this and to avoid another accident, he did poor Martin a favor, missing the point, by replacing him with Fort. Opposite, Mingueza obviously still had the lead in Tenerife, where he had faced Switzerland in the selection five days earlier, since the Spanish international offered a new goal to his former employer.

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He lost a dangerous ball to the benefit of Raphinha, who found a clinical Lewandowski at the right tempo (61st, 0-2). A 15th goal in 14 games to further establish his domination in the Liga scorers' rankings, which the Pole dominates ahead of a certain Raphinha, author of 6 goals. The Brazilian was also close to his 7th on a serve from Olmo, but his attempt consecutively hit the post, then Guaita (78th), which would coincide with the collapse of the Catalans and the devastating expulsion of Casado at the 82nd minute. If Pena was impeccable in front of Álvarez (68th), then Borja Iglesias (79th), he in fact bowed to Gonzalez (84th), after a nasty technical error from Jules Koundé, too indecisive in front of his surface (84th, 1-2) . Two minutes later, Barça sabotaged itself again. This time it was Alvarez's turn (86th, 2-2) to make Fort miserable on the side, and to adjust Pena to spoil Barça's party. In the standings, Flick's men remain leader with five points ahead of Atlético, and 7 over Real, who have two games in hand. Celta is 11th.