Barcelona’s Dramatic Comeback Against Celta Vigo: A Night to Remember
In a thrilling encounter that had fans on the edge of their seats, Barcelona coach Hansi Flick couldn’t contain his excitement as he praised his team’s “unbelievable” comeback against Celta Vigo. The match, which ended in a vital 4-3 win for the LaLiga leaders, was sealed by Raphinha‘s stoppage-time penalty, leaving fans and players alike in a state of euphoria.
The game started with a bang as Ferran Torres opened the scoring for Barcelona. However, the joy was short-lived as Borja Iglesias responded with a hat trick, turning the tide in Celta’s favor and giving them a surprising 3-1 lead at the Olympic Stadium with just 30 minutes left on the clock.
But Barcelona, known for their resilience, were not ready to throw in the towel. Quick-fire goals from Dani Olmo and Raphinha brought the match level, setting the stage for a dramatic finish. The Brazilian’s 98th-minute penalty clinched the victory, propelling Barça seven points clear of Real Madrid, who are set to host Athletic Club on Sunday, with six games remaining in the season.
Reflecting on the match, Flick expressed his pride in the team’s performance. “After 3-1, it was unbelievable how we came back,” he said during the post-game news conference. “It was not easy. I feel proud that we won the three points today. It was a very important victory.”
Flick’s admiration for his team’s attitude and mentality was evident. “This is the attitude, the mentality. It’s really great to see. It was tough. We tried everything to get the points and we did it. It was great.”
This isn’t the first time Barça have staged a remarkable comeback this season. They’ve now recovered from a two-goal deficit in the second half to win a match on three occasions. Earlier in the season, they overcame Benfica 5-4 in the Champions League in January and Atlético Madrid 4-2 in LaLiga in March.
Flick suggested that such feats might not have been possible before Christmas, crediting the team’s never-say-die attitude for keeping them alive in three competitions as the season draws to a close. “Today is one of the big comebacks,” he added. “It was very important because we know it’s now the end of the season, one match less, three points more. It’s the best feeling.”
He continued, “It’s good to see the team never gives up. In November we have this situation, head down, negative energy. Now it’s different. We have positive energy. We go on.”
Despite the victory, Flick acknowledged the team’s defensive lapses, with all three goals conceded being avoidable. However, he was pleased with the response. “When we conceded the [third] goal, Pedri grabs the ball and is going for the next kick off,” Flick said. “And it was a good start from there because [Olmo scored quickly].”
He added, “For me, it’s very important that we show we’re here, we’re fighting until the end of the match. It’s really good. I love this mentality.”
Unfortunately, the win was marred by an injury to Robert Lewandowski, who was taken off in the 77th minute after appearing to hurt his hamstring. “We have to wait until tomorrow,” Flick said when asked for an update on Lewandowski. “In my experience, [it’s always best to] wait and see what happens.”
With 40 goals to his name this season, Lewandowski’s potential absence could be a significant blow for Barcelona as they face a packed schedule. They host Mallorca in LaLiga on Tuesday, followed by a Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid next Saturday. The team will also face Inter Milan over two legs in the Champions League semifinal, with a trip to Real Valladolid in between, before a potentially title-deciding Clásico against Madrid in the league on May 11.
- Barcelona’s comeback against Celta Vigo was their third such feat this season.
- Raphinha’s penalty in stoppage time secured the win.
- Robert Lewandowski’s injury could impact upcoming matches.
Originally Written by: Sam Marsden,Moises Llorens
