La Liga leaders Barcelona extended their advantage at the top of the table to seven points after a remarkable 4-3 comeback victory against Celta Vigo in a thrilling encounter at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys on Saturday. Raphinha scored a penalty deep into stoppage time to snatch the win after Borja Iglesias’ hat-trick had put Celta in control.
Barcelona started brightly, with Ferran Torres opening the scoring in the 12th minute with a fine solo effort for his 10th league goal of the season. However, Celta Vigo equalized almost immediately when Borja Iglesias capitalized on a mistake by goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny, tapping into an empty net following Pablo Duran’s cross (15′).
Iglesias stunned the home crowd by putting Celta ahead seven minutes into the second half, exploiting an error by Frenkie de Jong to run through and score. The striker completed an impressive hat-trick in the 62nd minute, again breaking through Barcelona’s high defensive line to make it 3-1 to the visitors.
Facing a shock defeat, Barcelona mounted a rapid comeback. Substitute Dani Olmo pulled a goal back just two minutes after Iglesias’ third, finishing after good work involving Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha (64′). Four minutes later (68′), the scores were level as Raphinha powerfully headed home a superb cross from Lamine Yamal.
The game seemed destined for a draw until deep into added time. Dani Olmo was fouled inside the penalty area, and after a VAR check, a spot-kick was awarded. Raphinha stepped up in the 98th minute and confidently blasted the penalty into the top corner to seal a dramatic victory.
“This is football. We wanted to win this game but we weren’t always at our best,” said goalscorer Dani Olmo. “But the team came through in the end and the crowd pushed us on right to the finish.”
Celta Vigo’s Pablo Duran reflected on a “bittersweet feeling,” adding, “We should be very proud of ourselves, coming here and showing a lot of character… For a lot of the game we were better than them.”
The win moves Barcelona to 73 points, seven clear of second-placed Real Madrid, who host Athletic Bilbao on Sunday. Celta Vigo remain seventh with 43 points. Barcelona’s victory keeps their hopes of a potential treble alive.
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