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Celta Vigo logo
La Liga
Sep 23, 2015 at 7pm UK
 
Barcelona logo

4-1

Nolito (26'), Aspas (30', 56'), Guidetti (83')
FT(HT: 2-0)
Neymar (80')

Live Commentary: Celta Vigo 4-1 Barcelona - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live coverage of Celta Vigo's stunning 4-1 win over Barcelona at Balaidos to end the visitors' high-flying start to the season.
2

Celta Vigo subjected Barcelona to a demoralising 4-1 defeat at Balaidos tonight to end the treble winners' 100% start to the Primera Division season.

Superb goals from Nolito and Iago Aspas helped the hosts into a deserved 2-0 half-time lead, before another from Aspas after the break fattened the advantage.

Neymar finally pulled one back for the Catalans, who were denied by Sergio Alvarez on a host of occasions, before John Guidetti restored the three-goal lead.

Here, relive the action with our live text commentary.


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Can high-flying Barcelona preserve their 100% record in the Primera Division and negotiate what promises to be a tricky visit to Celta Vigo in the process? That is what we're here to find out. Welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary as the Catalans bid to make it five wins from five but, with tonight's hosts winning 10 points from a possible 12, victory is far from a foregone conclusion. Let's have a look at the form before team news.

Barca come into Balaidos on the back of a 4-1 win over Levante in a victory that proved two things: a) Luis Enrique's side do take a while to get going this season and b) Lionel Messi is human. Kinda.

The little man ended up with a brace, but missed an earlier penalty. Marc Barta opened the scoring on 50 minutes, before Neymar and Messi did their thang for the remainder of the half to preserve the Catalans' flawless start to the campaign. They look good. Do you know who else look good? Celta!

Eduardo Berizzo's men, with three wins and a draw in their first four games, come into this one after beating Sevilla 2-1 away at the weekend. Quite a scalp, huh? Okay so it's not akin to, say, beating Real Madrid or Barca in their own backyard, but an excellent victory nonetheless and they'll bring massive confidence into this one.

Incidentally, three of the four teams that have faced Celta so far have ended the game with 10 men. That should illustrate that they're a bunch of tricky customers and the Blaugrana will need to play well to beat them. That's a given. Team news? Well, we have Barcelona's team news and we have to wait on Celta. Such divas!

CELTA XI: S. Alvarez, Mallo, Cabral, Fontas y Planes; Orellana, Augusto, Wass e Nolito; P. Hernandez e Aspas

BARCA XI: ter Stege; Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Mathieu; Iniesta, Busquets, Sergi; Neymar, Suarez Messsi

CELTA SUBS: Diaz, Guidetti, Bongonda, H Hernandez, Guidetti

BARCA SUBS: Masip, Douglas, Bartra, Adriano, Gumbau, Rakitic, Munir

We'll start with Celta and just the two changes for them as the suspended Jonny drops out of defence, as does Sergio Gomez, while Andreu Fontas and Carles Planas deputise. Keep an eye on Nolito tonight. He's got four goals in as many games and has netted in each of the previous three matchdays. He's superb.

On to Luis Enrique's side now and he makes five changes from the 4-1 win over Levante. Gerard Pique returns from suspension to join Javier Mascherano in the middle of defence, with Jeremy Mathieu displacing Adriano at left back, which seems odd. In midfield, Sandro and Ivan Rakitic drop out for Andres Iniesta and Sergi Roberto, while Luis Suarez returns in place of Munir. He joins Neymar and Messi is that excellent three-pronged attack. Very decent!

PREDICTION! Despite Celta's form, Barcelona could, and probably should, have a little too much for the hosts tonight. 3-1 Barca. Let's see what Twitter makes of this one.

This fellow isn't too optimistic. He needs to listen to Mr Blue Sky or something equally as uplifting.


It's not all doom and gloom because this girl has her eye on a narrow away win.


Does April qualify as "quite some time"? In any case, D is going for a comprehensive win. Incidentally, we'll be having a look at recent meetings shortly.


Nothing will stop Brad from lodging a prediction - not even a broken hyphen button - and he's also going for a comprehensive win.


Steady on Siphe.


So, as noted, Barcelona were last here back in April, when they won 1-0. Who was the winner? Messi? Neymar? Suarez? Nope. It was only centre-back Jeremy Mathieu. It was one of the several big wins Barcelona pulled out of the bag en route to winning the title.

That being said, Celta did win the reverse fixture last season, with Joaquin Larrivey's second-half goal giving them a shock 1-0 win at Camp Nou. Can they repeat the upset on home soil this time? That's what we'll find out soon. Just under 15 minutes to go!

Fancy reading our preview for this one? Click here!

Ah, lovely. Both sets of players are lining up in the tunnel as we speak and we're just over five minutes away! This could be a really, really good game.

KICKOFF: And we're off! Celta, playing from right to left, get us underway.

CHANCE! A defensive error early on from Barcelona allows Iago Aspas an early opportunity, but he inexplicably fires across the face of goal rather than going for goal.

It's been a fine start by Celta. They look excellent in this first six minutes and superb defending from Pique spares the blushes of Mascherano, who was mugged off by Aspas. Hugely promising this.

SHOT! Aspas does well to control Nolito's hard-struck cross but, on the turn, his left-footed drive is never testing Ter Stegen.

SHOT! We haven't spoken of Messi because there was nothing to mention - until now. Iniesta slips the Argentine through but his effort is well saved by Alvarez. Didn't we say this would be a cracker? It's shaping up that way.

Oh good lord. We've seen a few horror injuries over the last week or so, and here's another as Augusto dislocates his finger, but he's okay, simply popping it back into place.

Barcelona well on top now. They rode their luck inside the first 10 minutes or so, but they're fully in control now and a goal doesn't look too far away.

Pique may have missed the last four games but you couldn't tell. He's been excellent tonight so far as he blocks out Aspas's effort. It's a real see-saw clash this.

It's like a scene from The Grey here now as the home fans jeer the referee for not awarding Orellana a free fick, which did look the wrong decision. Mathieu well and truly upended him.

BOOKING: Busqets goes into the book for a stern challenge on Aspas. Remember - three of the four teams that Celta have faced have ended with 10 men.

Barcelona trying to walk it in here a little. Neymar has the ball right on the edge of the area but, instead of shooting, looks to play in Messi and the chance is gone.

GOAL! Celta Vigo 1-0 Barcelona (Nolito)

If there was any doubt over Nolito's talent then he just wiped away such doubts with a quite brilliant finish. Orellana's ball comes to him on the left but, despite the angle completely against him, curls into the top corner to leave Ter Stegen with no chance. Take a bow.

GOAL! Celta Vigo 2-0 Barcelona (Iago Aspas)

We've already seen a truly world-class finish, and this one isn't bad either. It's a dreadful error from Pique near the halfway line and the mistake allows Aspas a clear route to goal. He makes full advantage, galloping some 40 yards and, with Pique's breath on the back of his neck, has the composure to dink the ball over Ter Stegen. What a finish.

I know they're Barca and all, but coming back from this looks daunting. Celta are brilliant.

Barcelona just aren't at the races here, folks. Some of you may have them in your accumulators but if so then you can kiss your money goodbye. Celta have more goals in them.

Five minutes until the break and to say that Celta look comfortable would be an understatement. Barcelona don't look themselves at all.

They need a goal before the break, but will it come? It's so unlikely. As we said, they're in complete control. Celta, that is.

SHOT! Hugo Mallo drives over the bar in yet another attempt for Celta. That's that for the first half I suspect.

HALF TIME: Celta 2-0 Barcelona

Do they deserve it? You best believe it. Two brilliant, yet very different finishes from Nolito and Iago Aspas have the hosts leading 2-0. This one looked a banana skin and it's proving to be just that.

RESTART! And we're back underway. Can Barcelona get back into it? You simply can't right it off, but Celta looked class in the first half.

Three minutes into the second half then and Barcelona have been a little better, but there's still a long, long way to go.

CHANCE! Aspas squeezes between Mascherano and Pique to reach Nolito's ball and go through one-on-one, but he drags his effort wide of Ter Stegen's goal. Will that prove costly?

GOAL! Celta Vigo 3-0 Barcelona (Aspas)

Where oh where is Barcelona's defence? They have a corner but Celta break, and Aspas flicks it superbly over the head of Alves before racing through on goal from the halfway line, before casually slotting past ter Stegen. This is madness.

CHANCE! Barcelona almost get one back when Suarez stands up a very decent cross, but Neymar can only head over.

SAVE! Finally, Barcelona are awake and Alvarez pulls of an excellent save to keep out Sergi Roberto.

CHANCE! Oh my word it should be game over, and again Barcelona's defence is nowhere to be seen. They're playing with a back two - and even they're far too high up the field! They're split open again as Nolito runs through, but he sends his effort wide of the post.

SAVE! Sergio Alvarez is having a truly brilliant game. He has made two excellent saves in this half already, and here's another as he tips away Neymar's first-time shot from 12 yards out. It's end to end stuff.

SHOT! Orellana, who's been a little quieter than his attacking teammates, does well to deceive Munir before drilling just wide. This is a truly brilliant game. It could just as easily be 5-5.

Barcelona are getting ripped a new one. Real Madrid fans would love this. Barcelona have been better this half but Alvarez has pulled off some truly excellent saves.

Right, we've got 15 minutes to go and, if I had to guess, I'd say Barcelona weren't scoring tonight. They may even concede again. Messi, Suarez and Neymar are well and truly getting gobbled up.

CHANCE! Alves heads over from an Iniesta lofted ball. Lord knows how he hasn't scored.

GOAL! Celta 3-1 Barcelona (Neymar)

Now then. Have we seen the last of this game? Don't back against it! Messi's brilliant lofted ball is reached by Neymar, who expertly volleys past Alvarez.

GOAL! Celta 4-1 Barcelona (John Guidetti)

Stick a fork in it, folks. Second-half sub Guidetti puts the game beyond Barcelona once and for all. Orellana drives into the area, with Pique failing to clear, and Guidetti volleys home. Pique has had a mare tonight.

I could be wrong, but Barcelona's body language throughout has suggested that they don't particularly want to be here. Nolito almost adds a fifth, but he's ruled offside anyway.

It's party time at Balaidos. The fans are loving this - and rightly so. They've only got four goals but it's been a five-star performance from the hosts.

FULL TIME: Celta 4-1 Barcelona

Wow. Just wow. How has that happened? I'll tell you: Celta Vigo wanted it far, far more. Goals from Nolito and Aspas gave them a deserved lead at the break, before another from the latter saw Celta lead 3-0 early in the second half. Neymar deservedly pulled one back, but John Guidetti secured the points minutes later. Only four goals for them, but it was still a five-star performance and they can be so, so proud. Anywho, that's us. Cheers for joining our live text commentary and we'll see you next time.

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Barcelona's defender Marc Bartra (hidden) celebrates with Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (C) and teammates after scoring during the Spanish league football match FC Barcelona vs Levante UD at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on September 20
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