Barcelona Move Second in La Liga After Lewandowski Hat-Trick Against Celta Vigo

Robert Lewandowski fired a clinical hat trick as Barcelona rallied to a thrilling 4-2 victory over Celta Vigo at Balaídos on November 9, 2025, slashing Real Madrid's La Liga lead to three points after the capital club was held 0-0 at Rayo Vallecano earlier in the day. The 37-year-old Polish striker converted a 10th-minute penalty, restored the lead with a close-range finish from Marcus Rashford's cross, and sealed his treble with a 73rd-minute header—his seventh league goal in just four starts this season. Teenager Lamine Yamal's deflected strike just before halftime proved decisive in a chaotic first period that saw four goals in 37 minutes, while Rashford delivered two assists in another dynamic display since his January arrival.

The champions overcame a frenetic opening where Celta twice equalised within minutes—Sergio Carreira exploiting Barcelona's high line at 11 minutes and Borja Iglesias thundering home from a distance at 40 minutes—despite Hansi Flick fielding a depleted squad missing several injured stars. Frenkie de Jong's late red card for a second booking could not derail the visitors, who dominated possession after the break to secure a vital three points. The win extended Barcelona's unbeaten league run and capitalised on Madrid's frustrations, where Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, and Jude Bellingham were largely neutralised in a scrappy Madrid derby.

Coach Flick hailed Lewandowski's resurgence post-injury, stating the treble would significantly boost his confidence: "After the injury I can see a different Robert Lewandowski; he's positive." The veteran forward described the match as "one of the craziest" this season but emphasised the reduced gap to Madrid, adding he rejected rest offers because he "felt very good physically." Barcelona's attacking philosophy—yielding high-scoring encounters like their midweek 3-3 Champions League draw with Club Brugge—continued to deliver despite defensive vulnerabilities.

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Real Madrid's stalemate marked only their second dropped points domestically, with goalkeeper Augusto Batalla denying Vinícius and Bellingham while Rayo threatened on counters through Andrei Ratiu and Jorge de Frutos. Coach Xabi Alonso urged measured self-criticism, noting, "We're in November; there's a long way to go." The result intensified pressure on Madrid ahead of the international break, as Barcelona's firepower narrowed the title race heading into a crucial December fixture list. With Lewandowski rediscovering peak form alongside emerging talents like Yamal and established creators like Rashford, the Catalans sent a clear statement in the tightening La Liga summit battle.

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