Celta 0-3 Barcelona: 10-man Barça end Balaídos hoodoo
Celta vs Barcelona live online: as it happened
Barcelona ended a five-year winless streak in Balaídos as Ronald Koeman maintained a 100 percent record at the start of his Barcelona tenure with a 3-0 victory despite playing the second half with 10 men after Clément Lenglet was sent off just before half time.
Ansu Fati again opened the scoring for Barça with a well-taken shot off the outside of his boot and Leo Messi again provoked an own goal, as he had against Villarreal, when his shot deflected in off Lucas Olaza.
Despite Celta manager Óscar making some attacking changes after the break the home side were unable to find a way through and Neto had a fairly comfortable night between the sticks as the Brazilian added another clean sheet to his season’s tally so far.
Sergi Roberto rounded off the victory with the final kick of the game, latching onto a loose ball in the area after more defence-destroying work from Messi to thrash the ball into a gaping net.
And there's the whistle! Barça run out 3-0 winners depite playing the second half with a man fewer.
And that is the end of Celta's chances now definitively as Messi slips into the area, rides a couple of challenges and forces a save from Villar. The ball loops up, Celta fail to clear and the full back hammers the ball into the back of the net to put the icing on the cake.
Close! Hugo Mallo pings in a lovely cross and Sergi Roberto clears in extremis!
Five minutes added. Celta still looking for a goal and Barça seem happy to hang on to what they've got.
Celta fail to take advantage of a chance as Nolito shapes to shoot but drops it to the right instead. Barça clear and win a free kick to run down a little more time.
Nolito sends it into the near post and Araujo meets it but his back-header is high and doesn't trouble Neto.
Corner for Celta...
Busquets gets in on the yellow card act for a little clip of Aspas' heels as the Celta striker was looking to play the ball forward.
And Alba goes in the book for dangerous play after that. It was a 50-50 but he flew in on the deck and both players are lucky to avoid injury there.
Jodri Alba and Villar both down after a very nasty collision in the area the full back raced onto a through ball.
Nolito! It's a decent crack but straight at Neto, who punches clear.
Free kick for Celta out on the left as Sergi Roberto takes out Araujo.
Barcelona up to fifth as it stands.
Nolito! The sub goes for the far corner with a curler but it's well wide.
Messi goes for goal again but this time it clears the bar at the near post by a reasonable distance.
Corner for Barça as Beltrán cuts out a Sergi Roberto cross.
Ufffff. Denis Suárez looks for a teammate and whacks his pass stright out for a Barça throw. A little frustration starting to show now as Celta know they should be getting more out of a 10-man Barcelona.
Another yellow, this time for Murillo as he snaps at Messi's heels.
Off the bar! Baeza gets on the end of a Neto parry and his shot at an open goal takes a massive deflection onto the woodwork! So close for Celta and you just have the feeling that it's not going to be their night.
Pedri and Trincão coming on, Coutinho and Ansu off.
Messi has a pop and it's Tapia that gets in the way and deflects it behind for a corner.
Tapia in the book for a foul on Coutinho and Barça have a free kick in a dangerous position.
Celta pushing for a goal to get back in the game but lacking that cutting edge in front of goal. Neto is called into action to punch clear but the Barça keeper remains largely untroubled so far.
There's a pause as the ref's comms equipment is broken.... probably not waterproof. Nolito helps him get a new set on his arm and we're off again.
Barcelona almost have a third! Messi and Courinho pull off a training ground job and the Argentinean fizzes a cross in that just requires a touch to send it past Villar. Piqué arrives at the far post and clatters into it without making contact. It was painful but he'll be ok to continue.
Coutinho! Another rasping shot from the Brazilian draws a fine save from Villar and a corner for Barcelona.
Santi Mina is on for Emre Mor.
And it's chalked off, depiste Messi's wagging finger!
Barça have the ball in the net but the flag is up against Messi! Coutinho hit the post with a low shot and the Argentinean followed up but VAR will decide...
The weather in Balaídos is getting steadily worse but if Celta are going to react to that blow, they'll need to do it fairly soon. Nolito appears to be readying to come on to add some extra guile to the attack.
Messi! The Argentinean combines with Ansu and sends another deflected shot out for a corner.
The Argentinean's wait for a goal in Balaídos continues. The last time Messi scored here was in 2012/13.
Lucas Olaza own goal! Messi took out the entire Celta defence with some incredible footwork but it was the unfortunate Uruguayan who turned it in!
Celta sub Araujo joins the growing list in the ref's book for a foul on Ansu.
Change for Celta, Aidoo off and attacking midfielder Miguel Baeza on. We assume Óscar is going to switch to four at the back...
Some juggling to do at half time for Koeman and Óscar, who has plenty of attacking options on the bench. Will Celta go for the jugular at the restart?
Piqué was also booked after the Lenglet sending off for protesting, which will be of interest to Celta's forwards after the break...
And that's the half! What a finish to the opening 45. Barça could be down to nine were it not for the lino's intervention in the Piqué incident but Celta will have a one-man advantage for the second half.
Messi's free kick is deflected out for a corner but there'll be no time for it as the ref blows for half time, much to the Argentinean's chagrin.
Messi twists and turns and is finally clattered to the floor by the recuperated Aidoo.
And problems for Celta as Aidoo hobbles off after catching Ansu's boot as he cleared the ball. Both managers begging the ref to blow here so they can readjust.
And Koeman wastes no time in making a change, Ronald Araujo on for the unfortunate Antoine Griezmann.
Three minutes added.
The free kick is sent in to the edge of the area and Suárez almost gets a boot on it but Barça hack it clear.
That's Lenglet's fourth red since he joined Barcelona.
And it's Denis Suárez again as the Frenchman uses an elbow to stop the winger's run. Barça down to 10. There are protests but they are half-hearted. Lenglet has no defence there.
Lenglet is off! Double yellow!
What a crack! Messi goes for goal from the corner flag and it shaves the back end of the bar as it goes over! What an effort from the Barça captain.
Griezmann wins Barça a corner on the right. Messi to sling it in...
Joseph Aidoo goes into the book for clipping Ansu in full flight.
Ansu! A lovely ball through the legs of a Celta defender almost finds Messi but Villar is out like a whippet to deny the Argentinean a chance to connect.
Celta are really growing into the game now and causing Barça plenty of headaches at the back with their swift breaks.
Wait, Piqué is very, very lucky indeed as the flag was up! The red returns from whence it came and Barça escape!
The Barça defender flattens Denis Suárez and the ref goes straight for his pocket!
Straight red for Piqué!
And it's the youngster Fontán, making his Primera debut this evening, who is forced off with what looks like a shoulder problem. Néstor Araujo on to replace him.
Aspas! The Spain international gallops down the right and manage to get a shot off but again it's straight at Neto.
It looks as though Celta will be forced into a change with Néstor Araujo rushing to get ready on the touchline.
A training ground routine almost comes off for Celta but Veiga's attempt to turn in the area sees the ball deflect out for a goal kick.
Veiga, who looks like a very exciting prospect, wins a corner as he runs amok on the right of Celta's attack again.
Ouch! Aspas blasts the ball straight into the face of Sergio Busquets, who goes down with a thud but gets straight back up with a grimace.
Lenglet goes in the book for flooring Veiga and Celta have a dangerous free kick on the edge of the area.
A dreadful free kick from Alba hands the ball straight to Aspas, but his attempt to loft it into the area does a Donovan, catches the wind and flies straight out.
Celta pinned back at the moment as Messi tries to feed Griezmann. The Frenchman manages to keep it in but can't make anything of it as the ball skids towards the byline.
Fontán! Another Celta B player elevated to the first team this evening, the left back hammers a shot goalwards from distance. It's well-struck but straight at Neto, who smothers it.
Veiga! The Celta B defender steals into the area, dodges a couple of challenges and hits a low shot that Neto does well to parry away from the danger area.
A loose ball from Sergi Roberto releases Mor but the Turkey forward has nobody in support and is corraled into the corner.
It's proper pinball around the area as Celta try to clear and Barça knock it from side to side. It eventually falls to the in-form teenager who clips a shot past Villar with the outside of his right boot.
The first shot of the game falls to Griezmann. It's a first time volley and he gets hold of it but whacks it well over the bar.
Celta's press when Barça are in their own half is something to see. De Jong just about gets the ball out from under three light blue shirts.
There's also a gale howling around Balaídos this evening which is making long balls an extremely dodgy proposition.
A glorious ball from Hugo Mallo deserved better but Emre Mor slips on the soaking turf and skews a cross into the side netting.
Alba and Coutinho attempt to combine in the Celta area but the zip on the pitch sees the Brazilian's one-two end up going out for a goal kick.
Celta's defensive plan is immediately apparent... 10 men behind the ball when Barça are in possession with Aspas a lone threat to hit on the break.
We're off!
The teams are coming out of the tunnel into the intemperate Vigo night and we're about to get underway in Balaídos!
Iago Aspas has scored in each of Barcelona's last five visits to Balaídos and has only scored more goals in Primera against Real Sociedad.
It is absolutely thumping it down in Vigo this evening. There will be a few misplaced passes and plenty of opportunity for the most glorious sight in football, the spray-soaked sliding tackle. It seems Óscar has elected to go with five at the back as well...
Konrad de la Fuente called up to Barcelona’s first team
USA striker Konrad de la Fuente has also received his first senior call-up after coming through the ranks at Barça B and it will be interesting to see if the 19-year-old gets a chance this evening.
Here's Barcelona's bench for this evening's game. Martin Braithwaite is back from injury and Trincão had a decent cameo against Villarreal after joining in the summer from Benfica so there is no shortage of options if Koeman needs a later goal. Ousmane Dembélé also got off the bench last weekend and could feature tonight as he seeks to kick-start his Barça career after a spate of injuries.
Barcelona make new offer for Manchester City's Eric García
While Barcelona's priority in the window is to look for a replacement for Luis Suárez, the Camp Nou board are also after some defensive reinforcements and have lodged another bid for La Masia product Eric García, who is currently at Manchester City.
Champions League 2020/21 group stage draw as it happened
Champions League groups confirmed
Elsewhere, the Champions League draw has taken place and Barcelona will face Juventus in the group stage.
Celta starting XI confirmed
And here's the home side's starting XI. Oscar has opted for Mor and Aspas in attack with Mina and Nolito on the bench in reserve.
Koeman: "I will continue to count on Dembélé"
It will be interesting to see what Antoine Griezmann does this evening. The Frenchman had a fairly selfless game against the Yellow Submarine, putting in a shift in defence but not really linking up well with his attacking colleagues. Barça are still in the market for a striker so Griezmann is playing for his place until the window closes.
Barcelona starting XI confirmed
Koeman's starting XI has been announced. There are no changes from the side that beat Villarreal with Ansu, hardly surprisingly, retaining his place.
Ronald Koeman noted before the game that it has been some time since Barcelona came away from Vigo with three points. That was in 2015, with Barça unable to beat Celta in their back yard since then. Celta's results at home against Barça since that last victory are: 4-1, 4-3, 2-2, 2-0, 2-2.
Celta Vigo vs Barcelona: how and where to watch - times, TV...
Celta vs Barcelona: match preview and how to watch
For a few nuggets of information on both sides ahead of the game, look no further than our preview, which also contains info on how to watch the game.
This game traditionally provides goals - 3.7 per game on average over the course of the last 20 Liga fixtures between the sides. Celta have only managed three in three this season but also appear to have tightened up at the back - their Achilles heel last campaign - conceding just twice. The home side have plenty of attacking threat in Iago Aspas, Santi Mina, Braís Méndez and a player for whom the word mercurial was coined, Emre Mor. Former Barcelona midfielder Denis Suárez will also be up for this one.
Koeman appears to have settled on a 4-2-3-1 formation with Ansu playing as a false nine in a fluid front four. The set-up also allows Frenkie de Jong a little more freedom and the Netherlands international had one of his best games since joining last summer. Philipe Coutinho also looked reborn in a free role and provided an assist for Ansu with a wonderful raking pass in a performance that augurs well for the Brazilian's season.
In truth it was a fairly easy start to life for the Dutchman, who needed the balm of an early win after a summer of discontent around Camp Nou. Villarreal didn't put up much resistance and it has to be said that Unai Emery got his tactics wrong in the first half with an attacking midfield set-up and a high defensive line that Barcelona tore to shreds. The game was over as a contest by the break and even though Leo Messi wasn't at his brilliant best, as a unit Barça looked to be in good shape.
Barcelona player ratings: Ansu Fati leads Koeman's revolution
You can have a look to see how we rated Koeman's side after that game here.
Celta narrowly avoided the drop last season but are unbeaten in three under Óscar García, who oversaw the side's escape last season after replacing Fran Esribá. Ronald Koeman got off to a winning start at Barcelona at the weekend when his team brushed Villarreal aside 4-0 with Ansu Fati on form for the Catalans.
Celta vs Barcelona: welcome
Hello and welcome to AS English's live coverage of the LaLiga contest between Celta Vigo and Barcelona from Balaídos. Kick-off is at 21:30.