Celta Vigo 2-4 Barcelona Player Ratings: Lewandowski Rated 9.5/10 as His Hat-Trick Seals Thrilling 4-2 Victory

Winning at Celta Vigo’s home ground has never been easy for Barcelona, and this match proved it once again. Despite taking the lead twice, the hosts fought back each time with sharp awareness and quick transitions, breaking through Barcelona’s high line effectively in the first half.

Barcelona were aiming to climb into second place, which they eventually achieved, but the performance exposed how vulnerable their high defensive setup can be against fast counter-attacks. With several key players still sidelined due to injury, the defending La Liga champions must rediscover their rhythm and show the true level expected from them.

The first half was full of fast paced game and quick transitions. Sportsdunia's player of the match Robert Lewandowski started the scoring from the spot, but Celta de Vigo back almost immediately through Sergio Carreira. It felt like every attack could lead to a goal. Lewandowski grabbed his second, only for Borja Iglesias to level things again with a thunderbolt. Just when it seemed the half would end square, Lamine Yamal popped up with a crucial strike for the visitors.

The second half was a slightly more controlled affair, but the tension was palpable. FC Barcelona eventually found the killer blow, with Lewandowski completing his hat-trick to finally put the match to bed. While the visitors take the points, Celta can take heart from their fighting spirit, though their defensive frailties were ruthlessly exposed.

Here are the Celta Vigo Vs Barcelona Player Ratings

Celta Vigo Player Ratings vs Barcelona

Here are Celta Vigo Player Ratings vs Barcelona

Goalkeeper

Ionuț Radu - 6.0: A difficult night for the keeper. He conceded four goals, but what stood out to us was that he also made five saves, including some impressive stops. He couldn't do much about Lewandowski's clinical finishing. Was left exposed by his defence far too often. Not his worst game, but a tough one to swallow.

Defenders

Carl Starfelt - 5.5: As captain, he needed to organize the backline better. He made a crucial last-man tackle and blocked three shots, which was commendable. However, his error led to a shot, and the defense he led was breached four times. It was a chaotic performance, a mix of good and bad moments.

Manu Fernández - 5.5: He was tidy in possession with a 96% pass accuracy, which is impressive. But his primary job was to defend, and his unit was a shambles. He seemed to struggle with the movement of Barcelona's forwards and was part of a collective failure at the back.

Marcos Alonso - 4.0: A disastrous performance from our perspective. He gave away the penalty for Barcelona's opener with a clumsy challenge. On top of that, he made two errors that led directly to shots. He was a defensive liability throughout the match and never looked comfortable.

Midfielders

Óscar Mingueza - 5.5: Only lasted 45 minutes before being hooked. He did create one chance but was largely ineffective. Lost possession ten times in one half and was dribbled past with ease. The substitution felt justified as he struggled to get a foothold in the game.

Sergio Carreira - 7.5: One of Celta's standout players. He scored a well-taken goal to bring his team level and was a bundle of energy. He won most of his duels and made four interceptions, showing his defensive commitment. A truly all-action display that deserved more.

Ilaix Moriba - 5.0: His rating is defined by one catastrophic moment. The error leading to a goal was a killer blow for his team. While he worked hard and won an impressive eight duels, that single mistake overshadowed everything else. A tough lesson for the midfielder.

Hugo Sotelo - 6.0: A busy but unspectacular evening. He was neat on the ball and made a few tackles in the middle of the park. However, he couldn't impose himself against Barcelona's dominant midfield. He was industrious but lacked the cutting edge to change the game.

Forwards

Borja Iglesias - 8.0: Celta's best player on the pitch by a mile. He provided a brilliant assist for the first goal and then scored an absolute stunner himself. He was a constant nuisance for the Barcelona defence. We were surprised to see him substituted with 20 minutes to go.

Ferran Jutglà - 7.0: He linked up beautifully with Iglesias to assist the second goal. His movement was intelligent, and he was tidy in possession. His own shooting was a bit wayward, but his contribution to the team's attack was significant. A solid outing.

Pablo Durán - 6.0: He put in a real shift but lacked the quality in the final third. He was caught offside twice and lost possession too many times. You can't fault his effort, but the end product just wasn't there for him on the night.

Substitutes

Javi Rodríguez - N/A: Came on at halftime but didn't have a defining impact.

Bryan Zaragoza - N/A: Introduced with half an hour to go but struggled to get involved.

Iago Aspas - N/A: Replaced the excellent Borja Iglesias but couldn't replicate his impact.

Manager

C. Giráldez González - 5.0: His team showed incredible heart to score twice against a top side. The attacking plan worked. However, his defensive setup was completely wrong, and conceding four goals at home is simply not good enough. He needs to find a balance.

Barcelona Player Ratings vs Celta Vigo

Here are Barcelona Player Ratings vs Celta Vigo

Goalkeeper

Wojciech Szczesny - 6.0: Conceded two goals, one of which was an unstoppable long-range shot. He only had one save to make all game, which speaks volumes about Celta's finishing. He did his job when called upon but was largely a spectator for big parts of the match.

Defenders

Alejandro Balde - 6.5: A solid and reliable performance. He was good defensively and got forward to support the attack, though his final ball sometimes let him down. He kept his side of the pitch secure without doing anything too flashy. Job done.

Ronald Araujo - 7.0: The captain led by example. He was a rock at the back, making five clearances and winning most of his duels. His distribution from the back was also impressive. A commanding performance, though even he looked flustered at times during the first half.

Pau Cubarsí - 6.0: It was a mixed performance for the young defender. He read the game well to make three interceptions but also picked up a yellow card and was dribbled past. This was a valuable, if challenging, learning experience against a spirited attack.

Eric García - 6.5: Extremely comfortable on the ball, as shown by his 104 touches. He passed the ball well out from the back. Defensively, he was okay, but he did seem a bit vulnerable when Celta attacked with pace. A decent showing overall.

Midfielders

Fermín López - 7.0: Full of energy and creativity. He was always looking to make things happen, creating two chances including one big one. His shooting was a little off, but his drive from midfield was crucial for Barcelona's attacking rhythm.

Dani Olmo - 7.5: A masterclass in creativity. He created three chances and was a constant thorn in Celta's side. His movement between the lines was exceptional, and he was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet himself. A very impressive display.

Frenkie de Jong - 8.0: He completely ran the game from the heart of midfield. With 126 touches and an incredible 97% pass accuracy, he was the conductor of the orchestra. What stood out to us was his calmness under pressure, dictating the tempo effortlessly.

Forwards

Robert Lewandowski - 9.5: Unplayable. A truly world-class performance and the clear Man of the Match. He was clinical from the penalty spot, showed his poacher's instinct for the second, and sealed his hat-trick with a great header. The highest-rated player on the pitch for a reason. Simply sensational.

Lamine Yamal - 8.0: Scored a vital goal just before the break that shifted the momentum. He was a constant menace, hitting the crossbar as well. Yes, he lost the ball a bit, but that's because he was always taking risks and trying to beat his man. An exciting and impactful performance.

Marcus Rashford - 8.5: He may not have scored, but his contribution was immense. He provided two brilliant assists and was unlucky to hit the post himself. His pace and direct running caused chaos for the Celta defense all evening. A fantastic creative outing.

Substitutes

Andreas Christensen - N/A: Came on late to help see out the game.

Gerard Martín - N/A: A late substitute with little time to make an impact.

Ferran Torres - N/A: Replaced Rashford for the final few minutes.

Manager

H. Flick - 7.0: His attacking game plan worked to perfection, with his team scoring four excellent goals. He will be happy with the three points. However, the defensive vulnerability and conceding two goals will be a point of concern for him moving forward.

Sportsdunia's player of the match is Lewandowski