Barcelona 4-1 Celta Vigo: Lionel Messi hits hat-trick as champions reclaim top spot
Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick, including two sublime free-kicks, as champions Barcelona returned to winning ways against Celta Vigo in La Liga.
Messi opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Junior Firpo’s cross struck defender Joseph Aidoo’s arm.
Lucas Olaza equalised for the visitors with an excellent free-kick, but Messi put the hosts back in front with a similar attempt four minutes later.
Messi stepped up again after half-time, before Sergio Busquets added a fourth.
Real Madrid had earlier defeated Eibar 4-0 to move first in the table, but this result sees Barcelona reclaim top spot on goal difference.
- Barcelona v Celta Vigo as it happened
- Real Madrid cruise to victory at Eibar
Celta Vigo, playing their first game under new manager Óscar Garcia, started brightly as they looked to test a Barcelona side condemned to a shock 3-1 defeat by Levante last weekend.
Their early hard work was undone by Aidoo’s handball, and there was nothing goalkeeper Rubén Blanco could do as Messi’s inch-perfect free-kicks either side of the interval wrestled the game away from the visitors.
The match was already over as a contest when Busquets swept home his side’s fourth with five minutes remaining.
It leaves Barcelona and Real Madrid tied on 25 points as the El Clasico showdown on 18 December draws near.
Line-ups
Barcelona
Substitutes
Celta Vigo
Substitutes
Match Stats
Live Text
Match ends, Barcelona 4, Celta de Vigo 1.
Full Time
Second Half ends, Barcelona 4, Celta de Vigo 1.
Corner, Celta de Vigo. Conceded by Marc-André ter Stegen.
Attempt saved. Lucas Olaza (Celta de Vigo) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Booking
Sergio Busquets (Barcelona) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Sergio Busquets (Barcelona).
Brais Méndez (Celta de Vigo) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Goal!
Goal! Barcelona 4, Celta de Vigo 1. Sergio Busquets (Barcelona) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner.
Corner, Celta de Vigo. Conceded by Sergio Busquets.
Offside, Celta de Vigo. Fran Beltrán tries a through ball, but Gabriel Fernández is caught offside.
Foul by Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona).
Brais Méndez (Celta de Vigo) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Luis Suárez (Barcelona) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Ousmane Dembélé.
Substitution
Substitution, Celta de Vigo. Gabriel Fernández replaces Pape Cheikh.
Foul by Samuel Umtiti (Barcelona).
Iago Aspas (Celta de Vigo) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Celta de Vigo. Denis Suárez replaces Stanislav Lobotka.
Arthur (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Pape Cheikh (Celta de Vigo).
Offside, Barcelona. Lionel Messi tries a through ball, but Ousmane Dembélé is caught offside.
Substitution
Substitution, Barcelona. Luis Suárez replaces Antoine Griezmann.
Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Hugo Mallo.
Arthur (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Lucas Olaza (Celta de Vigo).
Júnior Firpo (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Brais Méndez (Celta de Vigo).
Foul by Samuel Umtiti (Barcelona).
Iago Aspas (Celta de Vigo) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Arthur (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Brais Méndez (Celta de Vigo).
Foul by Júnior Firpo (Barcelona).
Iago Aspas (Celta de Vigo) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Celta de Vigo. Brais Méndez replaces Pione Sisto.
Foul by Sergio Busquets (Barcelona).
Pione Sisto (Celta de Vigo) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Rubén Blanco.
Attempt saved. Antoine Griezmann (Barcelona) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Lionel Messi.
Foul by Júnior Firpo (Barcelona).
Stanislav Lobotka (Celta de Vigo) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Samuel Umtiti (Barcelona).
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