Barca helps opponents stay in La Liga

Spain Beat champions Barca 2-1 in the final round, Celta Vigo stayed in the league and will have a 12th consecutive season playing in La Liga.

Before the final round, Celta was in 17th place and only one point above the "red light" group. Therefore, in case of losing points against Barca, Celta is at risk of being relegated if Valladolid defeats Getafe in the match at the same time.

Eric Garcia (No. 24) catches up with Celta striker Seferovic in a contested situation. Photo: RC Celta — Eric Garcia (No. 24) catches up with Celta striker Seferovic in a contested situation. Photo: *RC Celta*

Difficulties soon surrounded the home team when they conceded a goal in the 11th minute. Robert Lewandowski missed a shot and accidentally set up Franck Kessie to score a close-range shot past goalkeeper Ivan Villar. But VAR intervened and disallowed the goal for offside.

Having escaped defeat, Celta improved their game and created many opportunities from the second half of the first half. In the 42nd minute, Gabriel Veiga accelerated past both Marcos Alonso and Andreas Christensen and then shot low across the corner to beat Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

In the 65th minute, Veiga completed his double with a high cross from the right wing to the far corner, hitting the inside of the post and beyond Ter Stegen's reach. At 21 years and 8 days old, Veiga is the youngest player to score twice against Barca since Sergio Aguero in March 2009 (20 years 272 days), and the youngest Spaniard to do so since Fernando Torres in February 2005 (20 years 323 days).

Ansu Fati's close-range header did not change the outcome of the match. With a 2-1 victory, Celta not only stayed in the league but also finished 13th with 43 points, thereby playing in La Liga for the 12th consecutive season.

Main events of the match Celta Vigo 2-1 Barca.

In the same match, Valladolid drew 0-0 at home with Getafe and finished 18th with 40 points. Valladolid was relegated for the ninth time and will join Espanyol and Elche in the Spanish second division next season.

Meanwhile, yesterday's defeat at Balaidos did not affect Barca because they won the championship early. After the match, coach Xavi said that Barca missed many good opportunities and congratulated Lewandowski on winning the Golden Boot in his first season playing in La Liga. The Polish striker scored 23 goals, four more than the next highest scorer, Karim Benzema.

Xavi said Barca had a great season, winning the domestic double of La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup. But he wants the club to "take another step towards winning the Champions League" by strengthening their squad in the summer transfer window of 2023. Xavi assessed that Barca need two players in each position to compete on the continental stage.

Line-up :

Celta : Villar, Unai Nunez, Galan, Oscar Mingueza (Vazquez 67), Carlos Diminguez, De la Torre (Tapia 70), Beltran, Veiga (Cervi 71), Seferovic (Aspas 78), Carles Perez.

Barca : Ter Stegen (Pena 63), Roberto, Alonso, Christensen (Gavi 46), Garcia (Carral 72), Kessie, De Jong, Torres (Fati 63), Raphinha (Dembele 63), Lewandowski

Hong Duy

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