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Barcelona logo
La Liga
Nov 1, 2014 at 7pm UK
 
Celta Vigo logo

0-1

FT(HT: 0-0)
Larrivey (55')

Barcelona stunned by Celta Vigo to fall to second La Liga defeat

Joaquin Larrivey's second-half strike sends Barcelona to their second successive La Liga defeat as Celta Vigo claim a shock 1-0 victory at the Camp Nou.

Celta Vigo have defeated Barcelona 1-0 at the Camp Nou to send the Catalan club to their second successive defeat in La Liga.

Neymar wasted a couple of openings to put the hosts ahead early on, failing to control Luis Suarez's pass into the box before heading straight into the hands of man-of-the-match Sergio Alvarez from close range minutes later.

The Brazilian forward was involved again shortly after when his curling effort from range came back off the crossbar, as Barca continued to probe for an opening goal.

Celta Vigo's players celebrate after scoring during the Spanish league football match FC Barcelona vs RC Celta de Vigo at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on November 1, 2014© Getty Images

Celta proved a threat on occasions, particularly on the half-hour mark when Pablo Hernandez met a corner inside the box, although his headed attempt was straight at Claudio Bravo.

Lionel Messi, closing in on becoming La Liga's record goalscorer, was denied by Alvarez after being picked out by Neymar, shortly before driving into the Celta box and striking the crossbar with a deflected effort.

Barcelona saw two more chances come and go before the interval, with Messi heading over a decent Suarez cross into the box, while the former Liverpool man could not get the better of Alvarez at the end of his run.

Luis Enrique, who was managing Celta Vigo this time last year, sent his side out fired up, and it almost paid dividends when Neymar struck the crossbar shortly after the restart.

Despite all the Barcelona chances, it was Celta who edged ahead shortly before the hour courtesy of Joaquin Larrivey, who found the bottom corner after being picked out by strike partner Nolito.

The pacesetters created a number of opportunities in the remainder of the game, but could not convert.

Suarez could not quite divert Messi's free kick into the back of the net, while Alvarez kept out Messi and Suarez once more in impressive fashion.

Substitute Charles could have put the game beyond the hosts, only to head his close-range effort over the crossbar 10 minutes from time.

Messi was to strike the bar yet again - the fourth occasion that the Catalan giants had been denied by the frame of the goal - which signalled the end of Barcelona's hopes of salvaging a point.

The defeat sees them drop to third in the La Liga table, while Celta tighten their hold on a Europa League place.

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Luis Suarez of FC Barcelona looks on during the Joan Gamper Trophy match between FC Barcelona and Club Leon at Camp Nou on August 18, 2014
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Madrid32256170224881
2Barcelona32217464372770
3GironaGirona32215667402768
4Atletico MadridAtletico32194959382161
5Athletic Bilbao321610652302258
6Real Sociedad321312746341251
7Real BetisBetis32121284038248
8Valencia32138113534147
9Villarreal32119125155-442
10Getafe32913103844-640
11Osasuna32116153746-939
12Sevilla32910134145-437
13Las PalmasLas Palmas32107153039-937
14AlavesAlaves3298152838-1035
15Rayo Vallecano32713122739-1234
16Celta Vigo32710153747-1031
17Mallorca32613132638-1231
18CadizCadiz32413152245-2325
19Granada3239203361-2818
20Almeria32111203164-3314


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