Barcelona‘s 100 percent start to the Liga season came to an abrupt end as Celta Vigo inflicted a sensational – and well deserved – 4-1 defeat on the Spanish and European champions.
Advertisement
Aspas then chipped the ball over the goalkeeper, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, for the second just minutes later.
Liverpool fans would be forgiven for not recognising the player who made 14 appearances without scoring in the league after arriving at Anfield in 2013.
Making his first start to the season, Bartra looked ever so comfortable in the position that it seemed he was never out.
Barcelona had difficulties coping with Celta’s press and the Catalans’ transition from defense to midfield was virtually non-existent. A casual Pique lost possession on the halfway line to Nolito, whose flick-on allowed Aspas to race clean through on goal and scoop a stunning left-footed finish over Ter Stegen and into the net.
Luis Enrique’s Barcelona however go into the clash in even better form – if it was indeed more expected than Celta’s current rise.
With three wins and a draw in their four matches so far, Celta Vigo have made a hugely impressive start to the season while also winning many admirers with their bold attacking style.
But Luis Enrique’s men paid the price for committing so many men forward as Celta scored an astonishing third on 56 minutes.
Celta travelled to the Pizjuan Stadium on the weekend – a notoriously hard ground to get a result in – and duly left as victors, beating Sevilla 2-1, courtesy of goals from Nolito and Wass.
It was a case of missed opportunities for Barcelona.
No one got near Iniesta as he danced through the Celta defence and found Messi, but his clipped shot hit the post and bounced to safety.
But Athletic were only level for three minutes as they afforded way too much room to Isco on the right as his low cross was swept home by Benzema.
Lucho then brought in some offensive reinforcements, as Munir El Haddadi replaced the underwhelming Roberto.
Advertisement
Neymar gave Barca a glimmer of hope but it was extinguished when John Guidetti hammered home from close range after Hugo Mallo’s cross.
