Celta Vigo Win At The Camp Nou, Ends Barcelona’s Title Hopes
Barcelona’s tepid end to the season continued on Sunday as they were beaten 2-1 by Celta Vigo at the Camp Nou.
The Blaugrana still had faint hopes of winning the title in LaLiga Santander heading into the game, with those chances of silverware now finished.
Ronald Koeman’s side dominated possession from the early outset, with Ivan Villar in Celta’s goal being called into action on a couple of occasions.
The first time, he made himself big to keep out Antoine Griezmann’s first-time effort before guarding his near post to stop Ousmane Dembele from opening the scoring.
The hosts soon broke the deadlock, though, with Villar standing no chance at denying Lionel Messi’s header, which was made possible by Sergio Busquets’ pinpoint cross.
For all their attacking intent, Barcelona were let down by their defending with a few minutes of the first half remaining. Gerard Pique stood off Santi Mina, whose shot wrongfooted Marc-Andre ter Stegen and found the back of the net.
Pique aimed to make amends in the second half, heading a Messi corner across goal, where Ronald Araujo could only divert the ball over the bar.
Koeman then opted to change tac, bringing off Pique for Sergino Dest in an attempt to create more chances against a sturdy Celta defence.
It was Celta, though, who began to look dangerous. Ter Stegen was on hand to deny Deniz Suarez, palming away the former Barcelona midfielder’s effort after a counter attack from the visitors.
Matters were made worse for a Barcelona side desparetly trying to find a winner when Clement Lenglet received a second yellow card for a foul on Mina, just 10 minutes after his first.
The final minutes were frantic, with Ter Stegen saving from Mina seconds before Jordi Alba’s cross was narrowly missed by Martin Braithwaite.
The knockout blow, though, was landed by Eduardo Coudet’s men, with Augusto Solari’s cross coming back off the post and Mina pouncing on the rebound.
Match sheet:
Barcelona XI: Ter Stegen; R. Araujo, Pique (Dest, min.64), Lenglet; Dembele (Trincao, min.70), Ilaix (Pjanic, min.86), Busquets, Pedri (Puig, min.46), Alba; Messi, Griezmann (Braithwaite, min.70).
Celta XI: Villar; Vazquez, Dominguez, N. Araujo, Caricol; B. Mendez, Beltran (Sotelo, min.93), Suarez, Nolito (Solari, min.69); Aspas (Baeza min.78), Mina.
Goals: 1-0, min.28; Messi; 1-1, min.38: Mina; 1-2, min.89: Mina.
Yellow cards: Dominguez (min.51) for Celta, Puig (min.61) for Barcelona, Lenglet (min. 73 and min.83) for Barcelona.
Red cards: Lenglet (min.83) for Barcelona.
Stadium: Camp Nou.
Attendance: 0
