Ten-man Barça drops costly points against Celta in a chaotic final phase

Barcelona faced a challenging evening at Balaídos, where their visit to mid-table Celta de Vigo turned into a rollercoaster of emotions.

After a disappointing defeat to Real Sociedad before the international break, the Catalans were eager to bounce back and regain momentum in La Liga. However, their performance revealed lingering vulnerabilities that nearly cost them all three points.

The match began with Celta showcasing their intent early on. Veteran striker Iago Aspas, at 37 years old, was a constant thorn in Barcelona’s side. Within the first few minutes, Aspas nearly broke the deadlock, sliding a close-range effort just wide of Iñaki Peña’s goal. The early scare set the tone for a tightly contested first half.

Barcelona, with Frenkie de Jong starting on the bench, struggled to impose their usual rhythm. Their midfield lacked cohesion, and the defensive line appeared shaky under pressure from Celta’s quick transitions. Despite this, the visitors managed to capitalize on an individual error after 15 minutes. Jules Koundé played a perfectly timed ball to Raphinha, who exploited a misjudgment by Celta defender Óscar Mingueza. The former Barcelona academy player, who had debuted under Ronald Koeman, misread the ball's trajectory, allowing Raphinha to race through and calmly slot home the opening goal.

The early setback did not deter Celta, who continued to battle fiercely. Barcelona’s left-back Gerard Martin found himself under relentless pressure, particularly from the energetic runs of Celta’s wingers. In his attempts to neutralize the threat, Martin resorted to physical challenges, drawing the ire of both Celta’s players and fans. Iago Aspas was particularly vocal, expressing his frustration as Martin escaped with only a yellow card despite several reckless tackles. Sensing the growing tension, Barcelona coach Hansi Flick made the decision to replace the 22-year-old at halftime to avoid further risks.

As the first half drew to a close, Dani Olmo provided a glimpse of Barcelona’s attacking potential with a threatening run, but the Catalans couldn’t add to their lead. After the break, Celta continued to push forward, but it was Barcelona who found the net again an hour into the match. Once more, Óscar Mingueza’s defensive frailty was exposed as he lost possession to Raphinha in a dangerous area. The Brazilian showed his composure by setting up Robert Lewandowski, who clinically finished for his 15th league goal of the season. At 0-2, Barcelona appeared to be in control.

However, the game took a dramatic turn in the final stages. With Frenkie de Jong introduced to stabilize the midfield, Barcelona looked to close out the match. Yet, Marc Casadó’s second yellow card in the 85th minute left the visitors down to ten men, and the numerical advantage invigorated Celta. The Galicians quickly upped the tempo, and although Borja Iglesias had a goal ruled out for offside, they kept pressing.

Celta’s persistence paid off in the 88th minute when Jules Koundé made a disastrous error. Attempting to pass back to goalkeeper Iñaki Peña under pressure, the French defender miscalculated, gifting the ball to Alfonso Gonzalez, who made no mistake in finishing. The goal reignited the home crowd, and just two minutes later, the equalizer arrived. Javier Rodriguez delivered a pinpoint cross to Hugo Alvarez, who showed remarkable composure in the box to slot home the 2-2.

In the dying moments, Celta pushed hard for a winner, creating a few half-chances, but Barcelona managed to hold on and avoid what would have been their third league defeat of the season. The draw, however, felt more like a loss for the Catalans, who had let a commanding position slip away.

This result leaves Barcelona still at the top of La Liga, but the cracks in their performance raise questions about their consistency. The team will now shift focus to a busy week, starting with a Champions League clash against Stade Brest, followed by a La Liga encounter with Las Palmas. Both matches, set to take place at Camp Nou, offer an opportunity for Barcelona to regroup and deliver a stronger performance.

As the club prepares to celebrate its 125th anniversary, this turbulent draw serves as a reminder of the challenges that still lie ahead in their quest for silverware this season. Coach Hansi Flick will need to address the defensive lapses and find a way to restore the team’s composure if Barcelona is to maintain their position at the summit of Spanish football.