Celta Vigo 2-2 Barcelona: Stunning late show denies 10-man Blaugrana

By Sports Desk November 23, 2024

Celta Vigo scored two goals in two minutes late on to earn an entertaining 2-2 draw with Barcelona in LaLiga at the Estadio Abanca-Balaidos.

League leaders Barca appeared to be cruising towards victory when they opened up a two-goal lead thanks to captain Raphinha and leading goalscorer Robert Lewandowski.

Raphinha cut inside before tucking home for the opener 15 minutes in, then Lewandowski got his 15th league goal of the season with a simple finish in the 61st minute.

However, the script changed when Blaugrana midfielder Marc Casado was sent off after receiving his second yellow card in the 82nd minute.

With Barca down to 10 men, the home side piled on the pressure and it told in the 84th minute, substitute Alfonso Gonzalez converting following an error from Jules Kounde.

The comeback was complete two minutes later, with Hugo Alvarez drilling past Inaki Pena to deny Flick's visitors victory.

Despite the result, Barca top LaLiga with 34 points, five ahead of Atletico Madrid in second and seven ahead of third-placed Real Madrid, who have two games in hand. 

Data Debrief: Blaugrana finally held

Going into Saturday's game, Barcelona had gone 24 matches without a draw in LaLiga, winning 20 and losing four. 

When they entered the final six minutes with a two-goal advantage, it appeared certain they would match their longest streak without a draw in the competition's history, recorded between February and October 2017 (25 games, 23 wins and two draws).

However, Hansi Flick's side were stunned at the death as they dropped points for a second game in succession following a 1-0 loss at Real Sociedad prior to the international break.

Related items

  • Fonseca urges Milan to take more risks after lifeless Juventus draw Fonseca urges Milan to take more risks after lifeless Juventus draw

    Paulo Fonseca urged Milan to take more risks in future and sympathised with the fans who booed his players after an unexciting goalless draw with Juventus.

    The two sides played out a game that included just three shots on target - one fell to Milan and two to Juve - while a chorus of boos greeted the full-time whistle.

    Milan have not scored in two home matches in a row in Serie A for the first time since October-November 2023 (vs Juventus and Udinese in that case).

    "When you don't win, and after a match like this, maybe if I was a fan I'd do the same," Fonseca told DAZN.

    "I'm not a defender of this and I understand the fans perfectly."

    Milan's only real chance before the break came through Emerson Royal, who headed wide of the near post after a corner, while a weak Theo Hernandez header straight at Michele Di Gregorio in added time was their only effort on target.

    They registered just two shots in the first half, and only three times before have they managed less (on record from 2004-05), with two of those instances also coming against Juve.

    "It was a very tactical match. The team had too much respect for Juve and Juve too much respect for us," Fonseca said.

    "We know that Juve defend very well, it is not easy to have opportunities against them and those we had to attack we did not exploit well.

    "We could have done something more offensively, we made a mistake in the last pass and we never took risks. It is not easy against Juve, but when we have the opportunity, we have to do better in the final decisions.

    "The team always had the will to play safe but, if we want to score, we have to take more risks. Normally, we always create different situations. Today the team didn't take any offensive risks."

    When asked if seventh-placed Milan - on 19 points with a game in hand - still stood a chance in the title battle, Fonseca responded affirmatively.

    "It's difficult for other people, but I still believe. There are still many games and other teams can lose points," he said.

  • Dortmund got 'fully deserved victory' over Freiburg, says Sahin Dortmund got 'fully deserved victory' over Freiburg, says Sahin

    Nuri Sahin praised Borussia Dortmund for getting "a fully deserved victory" over nine-man Freiburg in the Bundesliga on Saturday.

    Dortmund remained perfect on home soil this season as they cruised to a 4-0 win at Signal Iduna Park after Patrick Osterhage and Junior Adamu were both sent off for the visitors.

    Maximilian Bieier and Felix Nmecha scored in the first half before Julian Brandt and Jamie Gittens secured the points in the second during a dominant display as they limited Freiburg to just three shots on target at the other end.

    Dortmund have now won 11 home games in a row in all competitions. Since the Bundesliga was founded, they have won more consecutive home matches in a row only once, winning 14 in a row at home in 1994.

    Sahin has come under pressure recently for the Black and Yellow's less impressive away form, but he was delighted with the showing he saw from his side.

    "We started very well. We controlled the spaces. We allowed very little," Sahin said.

    "Overall, it was a mature performance from my boys. We scored great goals, showed good energy.

    "We kept them away from our goal throughout. It was a fully deserved victory and I, as a coach, am very satisfied."

    Dortmund were, however, without Serhou Guirassy, who is their top scorer in the Bundesliga with six goals, as he pulled out of the game due to a virus.

    Next up for Sahin's side is a trip to Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League, and the head coach is hopeful he will be available for that tie.

    "[Saturday] morning again, we got the bad news. Serhou tried everything to play today, but it did not work," Sahin added.

    "I hope it will be enough for Zagreb. He is a very important player for us." 

  • Rodgers enjoying 'exciting period' as Celtic open gap at top of Scottish Premiership Rodgers enjoying 'exciting period' as Celtic open gap at top of Scottish Premiership

    Brendan Rodgers says it is an "exciting period" for Celtic as they moved three points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership with a 4-1 win over Hearts.

    Celtic made a sluggish start to the match and were lucky not to find themselves behind at the break as Blair Spittal and Lawrence Shankland spurned glorious chances for Hearts.

    However, they came out revitalised in the second half as Kyogo Furuhashi and Nicolas Kuhn scored twice in five minutes to put them 2-0 up on the hour mark.

    Adam Idah scored twice, netting on either side of Musa Drammeh's consolation, with his second coming from the penalty spot in the 94th minute.

    Celtic have now won all seven of their away league games this season by an aggregate score of 22-2.

    After Aberdeen's first loss of the season earlier on Saturday, Celtic gave themselves some breathing space at the top of the league, while also moving 11 points clear of rivals Rangers, who sit third.

    Rodgers was delighted with Celtic's response to the first half, praising the players' adaptation.

    "I'm really pleased. Tynecastle is a really tough place so to win 4-1 was really pleasing," Rodgers said.

    "Second half, we figured out their press. They have normally been pressing in 4-4-2 but changed it slightly. It just meant we had to drop a man in our build-up play.

    "We had some good moments in the first half, but once we were able to play through that pressure, I thought in the second half we were excellent.

    "It's a very exciting period for us. All the players know they will play, they just need to be ready."

© 2024 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.