Barcelona’s inconsistency on the road continued to be a concern as they drew 2-2 with Celta Vigo in a thrilling LaLiga match on Thursday night. This draw marked the third consecutive match where they failed to secure a win away from home, a worrying trend that has implications for their title aspirations. The Catalans are now seven points ahead of their eternal rivals, Atlético Madrid, who have two games in hand and are likely to capitalize on Barcelona’s inconsistent form.
The match began on a positive note for Barcelona, as Raphinha scored in the 15th minute to give his team the lead. However, things began to unravel late in the game as Barcelona’s defense struggled to cope with the pressure from Celta Vigo. Marc Casado’s sending-off in the 82nd minute for a second bookable offense proved to be a turning point, as the hosts took advantage of the situation and scored twice in the following minutes to complete the comeback.
Despite the disappointing draw, Barcelona’s players put in a decent performance overall, with Inaki Pena making six saves and 17 recoveries, and Jules Kounde providing an assist and making an error that led to a goal. However, the usually reliable Inigo Martinez failed to provide the calming presence his side needed at the most crucial moment, and Gerard Martin was disappointing, misplacing 10 passes and being withdrawn at half-time.
Pau Cubarsi, the 17-year-old, also took some blame for the result, as he was part of a defense that fell asleep for four minutes, allowing Celta Vigo to score twice. On the other hand, Pedri was impressive during his time on the pitch, playing 75 minutes and completing 89% of his 35 passes while making five recoveries. Dani Olmo had an impressive game, creating one chance and having a shot on target, but ultimately failed to add anything to the scoreboard.
Raphinha was brilliant for Barcelona, scoring the opening goal and being the most fouled player, with three fouls committed against him. He also won the most duels in the game, with seven successful duels. Gavi had a solid game, completing 85% of his passes and winning one tackle in the 75 minutes he was on the pitch. Robert Lewandowski put in a dynamic performance and was rewarded with a goal in the second half, but his impressive finish did not secure the win for Barcelona, as defensive lapses in the final minutes of the game allowed Celta Vigo to steal a point.
Barcelona’s torrid performance on the road ended in a disappointing draw, highlighting the need for improvement in their away form if they are to retain their title aspirations. The draw keeps them seven points ahead of Atlético Madrid, who have two games in hand, and provides a glimmer of hope for the Rojiblancos to bridge the gap and close in on the top spot.
