Iago Aspas last gasp equaliser saw Barcelona draw against Celta Vigo despite leading comfortably 3-0 at half-time
Match Report
In addition to the headache of choking away a three-goal lead, both Ansu Fati and Nico Gonzalez were forced to leave with injuries, adding to the club’s woes on that front.
Interim boss Sergi Barjuan, who was managing his final match as the club’s temporary first-team head coach, went with an attacking trio of Ansu Fati, Memphis and Gavi, and he was handsomely rewarded for his decision early on with Ansu Fati’s goal in the first few minutes.
The youngster received a pass down the left flank, made a quick move on veteran defender Hugo Mallo and fired a shot into the top right corner from a tight angle for a Barcelona lead.
It looked like it would be Barcelona’s day, especially when Busquets, of all people, scored to double the lead. The midfielder is not known for hitting the back of the net, but he had all thew time in the world when a cut-back pass from Nico fell perfectly for him to place a shot past Celta goalkeeper Matias Dituro.
Celta looked to respond and had several good cracks at goal, but could only shake their heads when they found themselves 3-0 down after a cross from Jordi Alba found Memphis, who steered a header into net.
Barcelona’s bright first half would have a sour ending, though, when Ansu Fati pulled up with an injury and ultimately had to be replaced by Alejandro Balde, while Ronald Araujo also replaced Eric Garcia during the intermission.
Celta were much better in the second stanza and mainstay Aspas cut the deficit to 3-1 when he pounced on an Araujo clearance in front of goal and fired into net.
More bad news was in store for Barcelona in the ways of injuries when Nico had to leave with a knock and was replaced by Riqui Puig.
Celta kept poking and prodding as they moved forward into the Barcelona half and they were good value for a second goal, with Franco Cervi serving up a perfectly lofted cross for Nolito to head into goal, cutting the Barcelona advantage to 3-2.
Back to the bench went Sergi, with Abde for Gavi as a nervy final 10 minutes awaited the Catalan club. Barcelona weren’t about to sit back and defend at the end and they nearly carved out a fourth through Frenkie de Jong, whose dashing run ended with a shot that cranked off the crossbar.
Just when it looked like Barcelona would hang on to deliver three points to Xavi in his first days back at the club, Aspas spoiled the occasion with an excellent left-footed finish off a pass from Javi Galan, to send Balaidos into pandemonium and leave Barcelona in dismay at the 3-3 result.
