Сельта Виго 4-1 Барселона: Яго Аспас забивает дважды и Сельта прерывает 100% результат Месси и команды в чемпионате Испании
Celta Vigo 4-1 Barcelona: Iago Aspas at the double as Celta thrash Lionel Messi and co to end Barcelona's 100 per cent record
CELTA VIGO 4-1 BARCELONA - PETE JENSON: He wasn't good enough for Liverpool but Iago Aspas was too good for Barcelona on Wednesday night as he scored twice in Celta Vigo's stunning 4-1 win. Liverpool signed the striker for £7.6m in 2013 but he flopped scoring a solitary cup goal, failing to find the net in 14 league appearances, and learning only the word 'yes' as he struggled with the English language.
He wasn’t good enough for Liverpool but Iago Aspas was too good for Barcelona on Wednesday night as he scored twice in Celta Vigo’s stunning 4-1 win.
Liverpool signed the striker for £7.6m in 2013 but he flopped scoring a solitary cup goal, failing to find the net in 14 league appearances, and learning only the word ‘yes’ as he struggled with the English language.
But it was yes! yes! yes! and yes! again for Celta Vigo supporters as they watched their team score four springing the shock of the season so far. They overwhelmed Barcelona with Aspas electric and his partner in crime Nolito also in exceptional form.
Barcelona could still take Nolito, a former Barça B forward, back to the Camp Nou when their transfer ban ends in January. This performance will have more than persuaded the doubters he would be worth the 18m buy-out clause. He ran Barça ragged scoring the first and making the second and the third.
Messi had the first chance before Barcelona conceded with a shot straight at Celta keeper Sergio Alvarez after Iniesta had burst through and played him in.
It was rare foray forward. Barça coach Luis Enrique had promised his players before the game that Celta would come at them at 200 kmph and blow them away if they were not up for the game. And so it came to pass.
On 25 minutes Nolito got his first goal. Hugo Mallo crossed from the right and when the ball reached him at the back post he made the most of the room given him by Dani Alves and curled the perfect shot into Marc-Andre ter Stegen to make it 1-0.
It was Nolito’s fifth goal in as many games and it was just the beginning because five minutes later he started the move that brought the second goal robbing Gerard Pique on the halfway line and nodding the ball to Aspas who raced clear and the chipped the ball over the stooping ter Stegen to make it 2-0.
Barça’s engines were still cold. Alves and Pique looked every inch like players whose starts to the season have been interrupted by injury and suspension and Sergio Roberto looked far less convincing in midfield than in recent appearaneces in Alves’ place. Further forward Luis Suarez was being well marked by Gustavo Cabral.
Aspas, pictured challenging his former Liverpool team-mate Luis Suarez for the ball, scored either side of half time to make it 3-0
Aspas should have made it three just five minutes into the second half but under pressure from Pique he pulled his shot just wide of Ter Stegen’s far post. Busquets had given the ball away to create the opening – another victim of Celta’s pressing.
Iniesta was at least trying to lead a comeback. He surged through and crossed for Messi who hit the post. Pique then headed a free-kick just over the bar and Messi again burst through and forced a save from Alvarez.
But Barça were now so committed to getting themselves back into the game Celta were able to pick them off on the counter. Aspas did it brilliantly 10 minutes into the second period
He dinked the ball over the hapless Alves on the halfway line and sprinted to Ter Stegen’s area before cooly slipping it past the advancing Barcelona keeper.
Aspas was given a standing ovation as he left the pitch with 15 minutes left and Barça immediately pulled a goal back with Neymar running across the face of the six-yard box on to a diagonal pass from Messi before scoring past Alvarez.
The Celta fans were now on edge. There were ten minutes left but if Robert Lewandowski can score five in nine minutes what could Messi do in what was left of this game?
They need not have worried. John Guidetti thumped in Celta’s fourth and the home team were home and dry and a point above Barcelona in the table after five games.
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