Intense, without truce… and with a continuous chain of scoring chance for RC Celta. Juan Carlos Unzué’s squad played one of the best games of the season with an electrifying performance, full of intensity and grind. Both in the first and in the second half, Celta did not cease to add opportunities to score, enough to sign a thrashing such as those that go into football’s history books. The lack of precision on a few occasions and a great Ter Stegen on others prevented it.
When Celta had Barcelona cornered, Dembelé scored what is his first goal this season in LaLiga, taking advantage of a mistake made Jonny. The skyblue home-grown player got his revenge, and on the verge of halftime, he stole the ball in Celta’s field and launched a counter-strike towards Barcelona’s area, scoring after a great pass by Maxi Gomez,
In the second half Celta stole the show and with 30 minutes to go in the match, Valverde put Messi in the match to try to turn the situation around, and it worked. At the 63 minute mark Pualinho finished off a Barcelona play to put Barcelona ahead on the scoreboard. RC Celta did not give up. Cheered on by the fans, the team sought after a goal with great will under the leadership of Iago Aspas, a true living legend. After an individual move by Iago Aspas, came a turning point in the match. At the 73 minute mark, Aspas was tackled from behind by Sergi Roberto just when he was heading toward the goal to face Ter Stegen one-on-one. The referee ejected the player from Catalonia with a direct red card.
The final stretch of the match was epic. Celta was in full attack mode against a Barcelona team that was cornered on its field. The draw came at the 82 minute mark after a controversial play since the ball bounced off Aspas’ arm before hitting the back of the net, to score the final 2-2. Celta had more chances, the most obvious one by Lucas Boyé, but in the end the scoreboard remained unchanged. Draw full of ‘afouteza’ y character that refreshes Celta’s image. This Saturday against Valencia, more.
GAME SHEET
2-CELTA: Sergio, Wass, Sergi Gómez, Roncaglia, Jonny, Lobotka, Brais Méndez (Boyé, min.83), Jozabed (Radoja, min.73), Iago Aspas, Sisto (Emre Mor, min.79), Maxi Gómez.
2-BARÇA: Ter Stegen, Semedo, Yerry Mina, Vermaelen, Digne, Denis Suárez, Paulinho, André Gomes (Sergi Roberto, min.60), Dembélé (Aleix Vidal, min.77), Coutinho (Messi, min.60), Paulinho.
Goals: Dembélé (0-1, min.36); Jonny (1-1, min.45); Paulinho (1-2, min.63), Iago Aspas (2-2, min.82).
Referee: Fernández Borbalán, Andalusian committee. Ejected Sergi Roberto (min.71). Booked Iago Aspas, Wass, Jonny (Celta).
Stadium: Balaídos (20.347 spectators).
