Barcelona vs Celta Vigo summary: score, goals, highlights | LaLiga EA Sports 2023-24

What next for Barcelona?

Six wins in a row now for Barcelona, who will, however, have to play a lot better than that if they are to keep their run going. There is a midweek round coming up in LaLiga, in which Xavi's side will travel to Real Mallorca, before hosting Sevilla next weekend. 

Celta, meanwhile, host Alaves and then visit Las Palmas, games which they hope will give them a chance to get some more points on the board. 

Celta remain just outside the relegation zone

Poor old Celta thought they were going to shoot up the table after Douvika's second goal. As it as, they are still stuck on four points, just above the bottom three. 

They'll surely improve their position if they keep playing like that though?

Out-of-sorts Cancelo wins it for Barcelona

This was my reaction before I remembered I had to update you all on the madness that had just happened. 

Very unusual, but refreshing, to hear a player admitting they were "mentally lost" in a game, but Cancelo's 90 minutes are a perfect representation of what sport and soccer are all about. You can go from zero to hero in the space of no time (or the other way(. 

Barcelona matchwinner João Cancelo: "I was mentally lost" and "having a really bad game"

"Personally, I was having a really bad game.I was making a lot of technical mistakes. You have to stay focused until the end. Our performance wasn't the best, but what's important is getting the three points, even if you play badly."

"We were doing well. Celta were defending deep, making the game difficult. The three points are all that matter."

"I was mentally lost in the game, making many technical errors that aren't normal in my game. It's always better to play poorly and win than to play well and lose. The three points are what matter."

"It's all just beginning. If I perform well, the club will want me, and if I don't, the club will let me go. It's a game-by-game situation."

Barcelona head coach Xavi: "We need to play better"

Initial thoughts: "It was an incredible comeback. We didn't move the ball like we did in other matches, we'll have a look at that later, but the team showed incredible faith. When you don't play well, you have to focus on these things."

Game-changing substitutions: "We were taking more and more risks. There was no other option. We ended up with two centre-backs and then attacking players. We had to take risks, and it worked out well."

Raphinha and Yamal: "The idea was for Raphinha and Yamal to switch positions. When you're dominating the ball and trying to move the other team around, positions need to be filled. We need to play better; it wasn't our best match."

Barcelona move above Real Madrid and...Girona to the top of LaLiga!

That's it! Barcelona are now officially the best team in Catalonia...

Xavi's side have leapfrogged Girona into top spot, although Real Madrid can reclaim first place if they win away to Atlético Madrid tomorrow. That won't be an easy task, though. 

Epic Barcelona comeback

I feel as if "epic" isn't quite enough...

Barcelona were NOT GOOD in this game at all, but found a way to win. That, as they say, is the sign of champions (boring cliché, apologies). 

Barcelona make history in LaLiga!

According to Spanish stats guru Mister Chip (well worth a follow, by the way) never before had Barcelona been losing 2-0 after 80 minutes in LaLiga and ended up winning the game. 

Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls. you have just witnessed history!

Full time: Barcelona 3-2 Celta Vigo

I have NO IDEA how Barcelona have won this game, but won it they have!

Mini-match report coming up (once I've had a little lie down). 

I almost spoke too soon! Almost...

Douvika tries to get a shot away at the near post but Araujo is there to make a brilliant block. And he wins the goal kick to boot. 

Celta still attacking but Dotor's poor pass runs out for a goal kick and it looks as if time is going to run out for them. 

Montjuïc is absolutely bouncing.  And no wonder. 

Dotor and Miguel on for Nuñez and Bamba for Celta. 

HUGE CHANCE FOR MINGUEZA!

I thought Celta were dead. BUT NO!

Mingueza takes a brilliant touch in the box and HAS TO score but somehow drags his shot wide. 

Seven minutes of added time to be played. Time for another three. 

Barcelona score three goals in six minutes

Wow. Aspas can't believe, Benítez can't believe it and I can't believe it. 

How ON EARTH has this happened?! Soccer, eh?

Gavi's perfect cross picks out the run of Cancelo, who steals between to defenders at the back post and volleys first time past Villar!

Celta were so good for 75 minutes but they've totally collapsed and are camped inside their own box.

There's only going to be one winner now, isn't there...?

Celta have fallen apart since their second goal. Cancelo gets in behind Ristic and plays a perfect cut-back to Lewandowski, who sweeps into the net first time!

The Barcelona fans are getting right behind their team now, the noise has cranked right up, It feels like a comeback is on...

VAR checked that Lewandowski strike for offside but the striker was marginally on. 

Grandstand finish coming up, folks. Don't go anywhere!

All about the pass from Félix, who lofts the ball over the defence to Lewy, who in turn dinks it over Villar and into the net!

Pretty well...

How can Barcelona respond? 

Wow, that was incredibly good from Celta. If you only do one thing this weekend, make sure you see Douvikas' goal!

If Brazil or...Barcelona had scored that goal...

A superb team effort! Migueza robs Balde in the right-back position and the ball is worked brilliantly into midfield and up to Aspas. He slides Douvikas clean through and the striker calmly slots past ter Stegen!

No less than they deserve!

Celta are starting to get a teeny, tiny bit desperate in their defending. Nuñez tries to usher the ball out but is robbed by Araujo and Starfelt has to make a late dash to stop Gavi's cross reaching Lewandowski (who I've hardly mentioned all game). 

Raphinha on for Torres

Last throw of the dice for Xavi. 

Ter Stegen denies Bamba!

Another brilliant save from the German! Douvikas feeds a neat pass into the path of Bamba, who strikes it well but sees his shot tipped over!

Barcelona looking livelier

Barça are definitely looking a bit livelier since Balde came on. On the other side, Félix and Yamal try to link up on the box but the former's pass isn't quite accurate enough to find the latter and Celta clear. 

Crucial interception from Araujo!

Aspas tries to play Douvikas clean through but doesn't quite get enough on his pass and allows Araujo to intercept. ANOTHER chance wasted. 

Torres....side netting!

Are Barcelona finally warming up? Torres plays a one-two with Félix and darts into the box but his shot from a tight angle hits the side netting (Villar may have got a touch but no corner was given).  

Goalscorer Larsen goes off

Douvikas is on for Larsen for Celta. A like-for-like switch. 

WHAT A CHANCE FOR TORRES!

He can't believe he's missed that and neither can I. 

For the first time, Celta make a mess of springing forward as Ristic gives it away and Gündogan puts Torres clean through. He has to score but shoots just wide under pressure from Starfelt!

Celta are going to regret these missed opportunities. This time de la Torre is in acres of space down the left but can't pick out Larsen or Aspas in the middle. 

Balde on for Christensen

Xavi moving his pieces around once again. Balde looks set to play on the left of the three central defenders and will no doubt try to get forward. 

Excellent defending from Ristic to stop Yamal from getting to the goal line. No way through. 

Yamal's first proper involvement sees him jink past de la Torre with a fine piece of skill before being fouled. To sum up Barça performance, Gündogan hit the free-kick straight into the wall. 

Villar saves from Araujo!

Nothing fancy about that from Araujo, who strikes the ball as hard as he can from 30 yards and forces Villar to beat it away. 

Barcelona can't continue like this, surely? This time Celta attack down the left and Beltran fires a yard over from the edge of the box. 

Mingueza shoots at ter Stegen!

ANOTHER big chance for Celta! Bamba does brilliantly to pick out the run of Migueza, who has the whole of the Barcelona half to stride into but takes a poor touch and has to backtrack. He still gets a shot away but it's an easy stop for ter Stegen. 

Another chance for Celta and Aspas!

Barcelona have got more players in attack, which means they have fewer at the back. They were already being picked off on the first half and have just been once more now. Aspas is sent clean through but is in two minds about what to do, eventually having a shot blocked by Christensen after going for goal. 

Lewandowski...wide!

Good work from Torres, who wins the ball back at the corner flag and gives it to Lewandowski, who drags his shot wide from the edge of the box. 

Penalty shout for Celta not given!

Absolutely awful from Cancelo who, not for the first time, gives the ball away careless deep inside his own half. Bamba picks it up and breaks into the box, where he goes down under a challenge from Gavi. The officials decide there hasn't been a foul although the young Barça midfielder was pretty reckless in sliding in. 

That should, of course, be 3-2-2-3. Maths was never my strong point. 

Just trying to work out how Barcelona are going to play and it looks as if they've shifted to a back three, with Cancelo and Gavi behind Gündogan and Félix in midfield. There's still a front three, but it's now Yamal, Lewandowski and Torres. 

3-2-3-3 by the looks of it. You don't see that every day. 

Second half underway!

Celta get us going again!

Lamine Yamal and Ronald Araujo on for the second half

Xavi is clearly not happy with that first half...

Yamal and Araujo on for Romeu and Alonso. 

Barcelona "outclassed" in "worst first half of the season"

It's hard to argue with Alex's assessment here. Surely Barcelona can't be as bad as that in the second half?

Half time: Barcelona 0-1 Celta Vigo

Hands up who saw that coming? The opening minutes suggested Celta were going to do little more than defend for their lives but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

While the visitors have defended in numbers and restricted space for their opponents, they have shown lots of attacking ambition when springing forward from inside their own half and could quite easily be further ahead.

While Barça’s attempts to threaten have been blocked by a sky blue wall, that same wall has bounced the ball up the other end quickly and effectively. Larsen’s superb finish curled beyond the reach of ter Stegen, who had to make a fantastic save to deny the same player a second from a header.

Romeu has also made two crucial blocks right in front of his own goal, while de la Torre and Aspas also passed up hugely promising situations.

As for Barcelona’s clear-cut opportunities…well, we’re still waiting.

History on Celta Vigo's side against Barcelona

These stats are, in a way, quite nonsensical when you think about it, as the Celta and Barça teams from 2000 have got nothing to do with today's. But this is still kind of fun and shows the importance of scoring the first goal in a game.

A big challenge for the Catalans coming up. 

Half time: Barcelona 0-1 Celta Vigo

Larsen's goal has the visitors ahead at the break! The second half is set up superbly!

Another HUGE chance for 2-0!

Cancelo loses the ball inside his own box to de la Torre and Aspas tries - and fails - to pick out Bamba rather than shoot. A big chance gone.  

Three extra minutes to be played in Montjuïc. 

Another excellent break from Celta, who work the ball expertly to Bamba on the right. He's got no one to aim for in the middle, though, and crosses straight into ter Stegen's arms. 

Very impressed with how Celta are both defending and attacking in numbers. 

Gündogan shoots wide!

The first properly free-flowing Barcelona attack ends with Alonso squaring for Gündogan, who shoots well wide from the edge of the box. That was the very definition of an anti-climax. 

CELTA SHOULD BE 2-0 UP!

What a save from ter Stegen! It's Larsen again who threatens and his header looks bound for the net until the German sticks his hand out. Even then, Celta have two more chances to get the ball in the net - Romeu makes another crucial challenge to deny Bamba before de la Torre blasts over when he should score!

Villar saves from Alonso

An effort on target from Barcelona but it's an easy save for Villar from Alonso's header. 

De Jong picks up a knock

De Jong is the man who has picked up some kind of injury, which wasn't obvious on first viewing. Gavi takes his palce. 

Christensen yellow carded

Christensen does get a yellow card this time and it's one that was worth taking. Larsen had skipped round him and looked set to race away before being held back. Great play by the Celta forward. 

Gavi about to come on for Barcelona

Gavi is coming on imminently. Not sure why, or who for just yet. 

Two crosses in a matter of seconds from Cancelo, one with the outside of the boot, one with the inside. The former is headed away, the latter is overhit. Try again. 

Nothing clicking for Barça in attack. Ferran Torres tries to feed a pass through for Lewandowski but is miles off target. 

Barcelona haven't had much luck in breaking Celta down and Alonso has had enough. He lines one up from more than 25 yards but drags it well wide. 

What a pass from de Jong! What a pass! 

The midfielders picks out the run of Félix, who doesn't quite get enough on the ball to take it under control and it runs through to Celta goalkeeper Villar. 

Romeu prevents 2-0!

Celta are defending in numbers and springing forward to great effect. De la Torre looks as if he's about to stroke the ball in for 2-0 but Romeu hits him with a crunching, but fair, challenge inside the box. A crucial intervention!

Celta are not sitting on their lead, which is great to see. Aspas fires a pass into Bamba, who gets good contact on it but can't get his first-time effort on target. 

João Félix blazes over!

Barça's first chance! And Félix should do better!

Some neat passing around the edge of the area opens up space for the Portuguese, who fires wildly over. 

Barcelona concede first goal at Estadio Olímpico Lluís Companys

They had been 12-0 up in three games until Larsen's opener. 

Well, well, well. That wasn't in the script. 

Beltran feeds the ball through to de la Torre, who just nicks it to Larsen, who supplies a sublime finish into the corner!

Ter Stegen saves from Aspas!

The first attempt of the match comes from the visitors, who are growing in confidence! Larsen lays the ball off first time to Aspas, who looks to have taken a poor touch but swivels and tries to chip ter Stegen, who pushes over the bar at full stretch!

I take it all back! Celta staff and players do know better than the guy who's doing the live blog.

A few short passes at the back are followed by a long sweeping ball forward by de la Torre, who gets Bamba in behind Alonso. The winger makes a mess of his pass infield but it was a promising attack nevertheless. 

Christensen clatters Aspas

There's that Barcelona pressing. The Dane's a bit lucky to escape a yellow card after smashing into Aspas from behind. 

Celta are asking for a trouble, if you ask me. I'm all for playing out from the back but when you're under serious pressure from some of the best players in world soccer, you're taking a big risk. Barça will press, so they'll have to be careful if they play the ball from side to side across the back, as they did there (and just about got away with it). 

The hosts have definitely picked up the pace a bit here. Cancelo and Gündogan combine nicely down the right but the latter's cross is also cleared inside the six-yard box. 

Oooooooo, Barcelona are cranking it up a little and only a last-ditch interception from Ristic stops Ferran Torres from getting on the end of de Jong's cross to the back post!

Almost a moment of promise for Barça as Alonso overlaps Félix but the left-back's cross is blocked by Nuñez. 

For all their possession, the hosts have not looked like opening their opponents up at all yet. How long can Celta play this way though?

For almost all the first five minutes, every single player other than ter Stegen has been inside the Celta half. 

Of course, the second I discuss Celta's non-existent attacking intent, they have the most dangerous move of the game. Aspas gets away down the left but his cross for Larsen is overhit and Barça can clear. 

Celta are sitting very deep here, they haven't been interested in pressing Barça at all so far. 

Celta finally get their first touch of the ball, two minutes in. Unthreatening possession for Barcelona so far. 

Underway at Montjuïc!

Barça gets the ball rolling!

No Pedri for Barcelona

Just a little reminder that star midfield man Pedri isn't playing for Barcelona today. 

What's going on with him and when will we see him again?

Barcelona vs Celta Vigo moments away!

Here come the teams!

Celta Vigo team to play Barcelona

Former Barcça defender Óscar Mingueza starts, while Celta will again look to captain and talisman Iago Aspas for goals, although he hasn't scored one since March...

Villar; Nuñez, Starfelt, Domínguez; Mingueza, Beltran, de la Torre, Ristic; Larsen, Aspas, Bamba. 

Barcelona team to play Celta Vigo

Three changes for Barça, with Marcos Alonso, Oriol Romeu and Ferran Torres the new faces in the team. 

Ter Stegen; Cancelo, Koundé, Christensen, Alonso; de Jong, Romeu, Gündogan; Torres, Lewndowski, Félix. 

A little under 10 minutes to go until kick-off, let's take another look at how the teams will line up in Montjuïc. 

LALIGA

Barcelona vs Celta: times, how to watch on TV, stream online | La Liga

Just in case you missed it earlier and are scrambling around frantically trying to find a way to watch Barcelona vs Celta, this is how you can do it if you're in the United States (or can pretend you are...). 

You can watch a live stream of Barcelona vs Celta Vigo on fuboTV, which offers a free trial

Marc-André ter Stegen: "Wall Time"

I'm not totally convinced "Wall Time" is going to catch on, but Marc-André ter Stegen has been absolutely superb for Barcelona since the beginning of last season in particular.

Has that reported hair transplant made him a better goalkeeper? There appears to be plenty of evidence. 

Barça striker Robert Lewandowski joins Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo

Until Tuesday, only two players in history had scored 100 goals or more in official UEFA club competitions (Messi and Ronaldo, you won't be surprised to hear. With his close-range volley from a João Félix cross, Robert Lewandowski joined the club, although he still has some way to go to catch the multiple Ballon d'Or winners. 

Here's Calum with the details. 

João Félix off to a fast start in Barcelona

Was it João Félix or Wow Félix who played against Antwerp on Tuesday? The Portuguese playmaker clearly didn't fit in at Diego Simeone's Atlético Madrid, who have loaned him to Barcelona. How nice of them. 

The attacker scored twice and set up another in the Champions League thrashing of the Belgians, following on from a goal on his first start from the club against Betis last weekend. 

Former Real Madrid boss Rafa Benítez returns to Spain with Celta Vigo

Mr Facts himself is back in Spanish soccer, although you don't imagine he'll be especially pleased with how things have gone so far in Vigo. The 63-year-old is perhaps best known for winning two league titles with Valencia (2002, 2004) and the Champions League with Liverpool (2005), as well as trying to teach Cristiano Ronaldo how to take free-kicks and telling Luka Modric to stop kick the ball with the outside of his boot during an ill-fated spell at Real Madrid. 

Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernández extends contract

How would you assess Xavi's performance as Barcelona head coach? Well, he won LaLiga and the Spanish Super Cup last season (good) but saw his team eliminated in the Champions League group stage and fail to get past the Europa League playoff round (bad). 

Fans haven't been hugely impressed by the times style of play up until now, but is that beginning to change? In any case, he's been rewarded with a contract extension until 2025, with the option of another year. 

He discussed all that and more in yesterday's pre-match press conference, which Andy has covered for you. 

How have Celta Vigo started the 2023-24 season?

Let's just say that it's not been especially pretty. Hopes were high after hiring Rafa Bénitez (yes, former Liverpool boss Rafa Benítez) as their new, high-profile manager but they're started the season with three home defeats to Real Madrid (understandable), Osasuna and Mallorca (less so).

They did pick up an impressive point at Champions League team Real Sociedad, however, and won their first match away to Almería a couple of weeks ago. 

There's obviously a very long way to go, but they're just a point above the relegation zone after five games. 

Celta Vigo team to play Barcelona

Former Barcelona defender Óscar Mingueza starts at what looks like will be right wing-back for Celta. There's no place for Carles Pérez in the XI, however. He'll be relatively used to sitting on the bench in Barcelona, though. 

Villar; Nuñez, Starfelt, Domínguez; Mingueza, Beltran, de la Torre, Ristic; Larsen, Aspas, Bamba. 

Barcelona team to play Celta Vigo

Three changes to the Barcelona side as Marcos Alonso (remember him?), Oriol Romeu and Ferran Torres come in for Alejandro Balde, Gavi and Raphinha. 

Ter Stegen; Cancelo, Koundé, Christensen, Alonso; de Jong, Romeu, Gündogan; Torres, Lewndowski, Félix. 

How have Barcelona started the 2023-24 season?

After opening the 2023-24 campaign with a goalless draw against Getafe, last year's LaLiga champions have embarked on a superb run of five victories in a row in all competitions, scoring 18 goals in the process. As mentioned, Xavi Hernández’s side followed up a 5-0 home thrashing of Betis last weekend with another against Belgian side Antwerp in the Champions League on Wednesday, their first game in the group stage. 

However, they trail arch rivals Real Madrid, who have won every LaLiga game, by two points and, incredibly enough, aren't even the best-placed team in Catalonia after Girona's win over Real Mallorca earlier on Saturday!

Anyone fancy Manchester City's buddies for the title?

Celta Vigo heading into the lion's den

Celta Vigo are (probably) rather reluctantly making their way to Montjuïc considering Barça's recent form. That said, they've picked up 100% of their points (only four, admittedly) away from home so far this season, so perhaps they have a better chance of avoiding defeat on the road. 

Barcelona's third home game in a row

Well, when I say "home", I am, of course, referring to Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys in Montjuïc, where Barça will be playing for the entire season, rather than Camp Nou. They've wasted little time in settling in, winning all three competitive games so far by an aggregate score of 12-0. That includes two 5-0 wins (vs Real Betis in LaLiga and Antwerp in the Champions League) in the last seven days. Nothing to worry about though, Celta fans...

Early Celta Vigo team news: Argentina winger Cervi absent

Like Barcelona, Celta Vigo have almost a full roster to choose from for this game, with former Benfica winger Franco Cervi, who has earned four caps for Argentina since 2018, the only injury absentee. 

Recognise a couple of names there, Barcelona fans? Óscar Minguez and Carles Pérez started their careers in Catalonia and are back to face their former club. 

LALIGA

Why is Pedri not playing for Barcelona against Celta Vigo?

Early Barcelona team news: Pedri still out

While there is good news concerning Araújo, young midfielder Pedri reamins on the sidelines. The 20-year-old played the first two LaLiga games of the campaign, scoring in the second againct Cádiz.

What's going on with him and when will be back in action? Glad you asked!

Early Barcelona team news: Ronald Araújo available again

Uruguayan defender Ronald Araújo has been something of a colossus at the back for Barcelona over the last year and a bit. However, he has only featured in one match this season, on the opening weekend against Getafe, due to injury, although he is finally fit to make his return to the matchday squad. Whether he starts remains to be seen, however, with Jules Koundé and Andreas Christensen having performed well together in recent games in his absence.

LALIGA

Barcelona vs Celta: times, how to watch on TV, stream online | La Liga

Before we get down to business, you may still be looking for a way to watch today's game. If you’re in the United States, then you’re in luck as there is a way and here are Andy and Kieran with the details! Just be sure to stick with me too!

You can watch Barcelona vs Celta Vigo live stream on fuboTV, which offers a live stream

What time does Barcelona vs Celta Vigo kick-off?

The clash at in the Catalan capital gets underway at 6:30 p.m. local time, which makes it 12:30 p.m. ET and 9:30 a.m. PT. A bit of Barça over breakfast, west coasters? Don't mind if I do. 

Over the next 90 minutes or so I’ll be bringing you build-up, team news and plenty more. Let's do this!

Hello and welcome to Barcelona vs Celta Vigo!

Matchday six of LaLiga EA Sports 2023-24 is in full flow, as Barcelona have been in recent games! 

The Blaugrana may not be top of the Spanish to flight (you can probably guess who is) but they have been in red-hot form of late and will hope that continue against a Celta Vigo side who haven't enjoyed the best of starts to the new season. 

I’m Roddy and thanks for joining me for this one! If you're expecting goals, there's a good chance you're going to get them, IMHO.