Robert Lewandowski’s hat trick propelled Barcelona to a 4-2 victory over Celta Vigo on Sunday in La Liga, narrowing Real Madrid’s lead to three points.
The seasoned Polish striker’s three goals allowed Hansi Flick’s squad to take advantage of Los Blancos’ 0-0 stalemate earlier at Rayo Vallecano.
Teen sensation Lamine Yamal also netted for Barca in a thrilling match, showcasing the champions’ attacking style, while Marcus Rashford contributed two assists.
Frenkie de Jong received a late red card for two bookings, but by then, the champions had already secured their triumph, moving into second place.
Lewandowski has had a challenging start to the season due to injuries, but Flick noted that the hat trick would boost his confidence.
“After recovering, I see a different Robert Lewandowski; he’s positive and returned quickly,” Flick stated.
“Scoring three goals today is great for his confidence,” he added.
Lewandowski described the match as “one of the craziest” of the season but was pleased with the outcome.
“Vigo always poses a challenge for us, but now we have fewer points separating us from Real Madrid,” Lewandowski told Movistar.
Flick emphasized that Barcelona will maintain their style despite recent hurdles, like their 3-3 draw with Club Brugge in the Champions League, resulting in a lively first half.
The champions took the lead through a Lewandowski penalty at 10 minutes due to a handball, but Celta quickly equalized.
Rashford missed a clear chance, allowing Celta to counter-attack and score, with Sergio Carreira exploiting Barca’s high defensive line.
Despite missing key players due to injuries, Flick urged his team to fight harder, and they responded energetically at Balaidos.
Returning to form, Lewandowski scored his second from a Rashford cross, putting Barca ahead at 37 minutes.
Celta swiftly responded with Borja Iglesias netting from the box’s edge.
However, Barca regained the lead when Rashford’s deflected cross found young star Yamal, who beat Ionut Radu at his near post.
The second half saw more stability, with Barca dominating and Celta defending.
Lewandowski completed his hat trick with a header from Rashford’s corner at 73 minutes, sealing the win.
It marked his seventh league goal in just four starts, proving his scoring prowess remains strong at 37.
“We have two weeks to relax now, but I hope we return playing better; it’s the perfect time to fix what’s not working,” said Lewandowski.
“Flick asked if I needed a break, and I said no… I felt great physically today and am very happy,” he added.
Madrid Frustrated
Earlier, Real Madrid was frustrated with a goalless draw at Rayo Vallecano, allowing Barcelona to close the gap.
Rayo fought hard in the derby, and although Real Madrid had better chances, the hosts also had opportunities in a scrappy clash.
They managed to limit La Liga’s top scorer Kylian Mbappe while keeping Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham in check.
Madrid sought to recover from their Champions League loss to Liverpool at Anfield, but Alonso’s team dropped league points for only the second time this season.
“I aim to keep growing and improving through positive self-criticism. This is Real Madrid—we know our goals,” coach Xabi Alonso told reporters.
“It’s November; there’s a long road ahead. We must be demanding yet measured,” he continued.
Inigo Perez’s Rayo threatened first, with Andrei Ratiu shooting directly at Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois.
Afterward, Madrid began to gain control, but the mid-table hosts remained resilient.
Rayo’s goalkeeper Augusto Batalla made a reflexive save against Vinicius, and the hosts limited Mbappe’s involvement.
De Frutos and Alvaro Garcia came close for Rayo in the second half, while Bellingham forced another save from Batalla.
