Robert Lewandowski netted a brace as FC Barcelona comeback from two goals down to beat Celta Vigo 3-2 in LaLiga on Saturday evening.
LaLiga
Result: Barcelona 3-2 Celta Vigo
Date: 23 September 2023
Venue: Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys
Barca manager Xavi made three changes to the side that hammered Antwerp in the UEFA Champions League, as Marcos Alonso, Ferran Torres and Oriol Romeu were recalled.
Blaugrana had plenty of the ball in the opening exchanges but they were not creating chances and Celta only started to pick up after 19 minutes as Jorgen Strand Larsen gave them the lead with a strike on the edge of the box after a pass by Luca de la Torre.
The Catalans were not clicking and Xavi reacted ten minutes before the interval as he brought on Gavi in place of Frenkie de Jong.
However, Rafael Benitez's men were the most dangerous on transitions towards the end of the first stanza as Larsen was denied the second goal by goalkeeper Marc Andre ter Stegen from a glancing header while Jonathan Bamba and De la Torre missed good opportunities from the rebound.
Xavi looked to influence the game from the bench at half-time as he eventually brought on Lamine Yamal in place of Alonso, in an attacking and tactical change.
Blaugrana started to have sustained pressure going forward but they only came close to equalising just after the hour-mark after Torres fired a strike just wise across the face of goal from a through ball by Ilkay Gundogan.
Barca committed numbers going forward and were picked apart on a counter-attack 14 minutes before time as Anastasios Douvikas doubled the lead for Celta with a strike across Ter Stegen after a through ball by Iago Aspas.
The hosts were fired up as Lewandowski reduced the arrears almost immediately with a lobbed shot over goalkeeper Ivan Villar that went in off the post after a lofted pass by Joao Felix.
Lewandowski levelled matters for the Catalans moments later with a composed finish unmarked in the box after he was setup by Joao Cancelo.
The comeback by Barca was complete in the last minute after Cancelo attacked Gavis's cross in the box and flicked it past Villar.
Celta carried some threats in the tail end but the damage was done, as Xavi's troops climbed up to the top of the standings, although they are just one point ahead of Real Madrid, who in action on Sunday.
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