LIGA – FC Barcelona did not make a good deal by conceding a draw (2-2) on the field of Celta Vigo (2-2) on Saturday. If he regains the lead at Real, it is only for one point, before Madrid plays in turn on Sunday.
A more attractive face but only one point taken. Barça regained some color in the game on the lawn of Celta Vigo but had to settle for a draw (2-2) on the 32nd day of Liga. Fedor Smolov (50th) and Iago Aspas (88th) responded to the double by Luis Suarez (20th and 60th). Quique Setien’s men provisionally resume control of La Liga with a point ahead of Real Madrid, which will however have the opportunity to take off if successful at Espanyol Barcelona on Sunday evening.
The movie of the match
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Substitute Griezmann facing Celta Vigo, Puig and Fati start
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The Barcelona coach had learned from the short victory over Bilbao in the middle of the week (1-0) and decided to start the young shoots Riqui Puig and Ansu Fati in order to energize a team that needed it. The biting start of his troops proved him right. Masters of the ball as often, the Catalans played more directly forward and were quick to find the cross of Blanco on a header from Gérard Piqué after a corner from Leo Messi (6th).
The unavoidable Argentinian again showed himself on a well placed axial free kick and showed a brilliant creativity by choosing to deposit the ball on Suarez’s head rather than to strike and the Uruguayan did not made to pray to open the score closely (0-1, 20th). El Pistolero had not scored since January and a serious knee injury. His goal, however, awakened Celta who became much more biting on the fast axial blocks led by his attackers Aspas and Smolov (22nd and 43rd), while Brais Mendez found the left post of Marc-André Ter Stegen (24th).
Barça out of breath
If Celta badly negotiated its opportunities in the end of the first open period, it was quick to find the fault after the recovery. The combative Mendez recovered the ball in the central circle and Aspas beautifully launched Okay which flew towards the opposing surface to serve Smolov on a plateau (1-1, 50th). After five games without a conceded goal, Ter Stegen could only lose.
In a meeting that became very hotly contested, Barça could count on a Suarez back in the foreground to regain the advantage (1-2, 68th). Again served by Messi, the Uruguayan signed his 13th goal of the season in La Liga. Not enough, however, to calm the ardor of Celticos who are struggling to maintain them. The new entrant Nolito to force Ter Stegen to lie down in front of his right post (80th). Aspas, him, completely surprised the German goalkeeper by striking his free kick 20 meters to the closed side (2-2, 88th). Ter Stegen still had the last word and pushed back on his line the small closed angle recovery of Nolito after a breakthrough by Denis Suarez (90th + 5).
More convincing offensively but less defensively solid, Barça is still looking for itself and could see its great rival Real Madrid spinning for the title as much as a shock against Atlético looms early next week for the Blaugrana.
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Riqui Puig, symbol of the paradox that never stops eating away at Barça
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Two winners and one loser in Barcelona: Griezmann, Fati and Puig, reverse trajectories
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