Three takeaways for Hansi Flick from Barcelona 4-3 Celta Vigo | La Liga | OneFootball

Barcelona pulled off something special on Saturday afternoon while taking on Celta Vigo in La Liga.

As the games between the two teams have been over the years, the clash was again a high-scoring one, with Barcelona forced to dig deep for all three points.

Ferran Torres fired the team into an early lead, only to be countered by a stunning hat-trick by Borja Iglesias, who gave his side a crucial 3-1 lead.

Barcelona then turned up the heat and found two goals in five minutes to level the scores. Eventually, a late penalty awarded by VAR took them to three points and a crucial win.

Barça Universal brings you three talking points from Barcelona 4-3 Celta Vigo.

A special remontada

Barcelona’s game against Celta Vigo did not quite go as Hansi Flick would have hoped, but the script could not have been more poetic if one considers the developments in Spain over the past week.

Barcelona did not give up. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Indeed, the topic in question is Real Madrid’s recent defeat to Arsenal in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal after being 0-3 down in the first leg.

A lot was said about Real Madrid’s ability to mount a comeback against the Gunners, with players and the coach making massive statements before the game, only to ultimately fall short.

Barcelona, in that respect, proved last night how a true comeback is mounted and how it is earned through character and conviction and not by noise on social media.

A remontada is mentioned only when it occurs when one least expects it, and Celta Vigo’s third goal close to the hour mark brought Barcelona into a similar situation.

Two goals down with 30 minutes to go, the manager brought on the right profiles to bring his team back to life, and what followed was unreal pressure from the Catalans.

Dani Olmo’s movements in the box, coupled with Raphinha’s threatening presence in the final third made Barcelona a force to reckon with once more and the duo both scored to bring the team back on level terms.

It is not surprising that it was eventually a penalty won by Olmo and converted by Raphinha that ultimately gave them three points. Barcelona have shown numerous times this season to have unreal mental resilience, and last night was the latest example.

Fatigue is catching up

Are the players tired? (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

While Barcelona did eventually manage to mount a comeback, there is no denying that the first hour of play from them was subpar.

With Lamine Yamal and Olmo on the bench, Barcelona struggled to create any form of threat in the attacking third, and it was Celta Vigo who pressed significantly more in attack.

What was more worrying, moreover, was how leggy and tired the team appeared as a whole, with players not moving with their usual briskness.

The season is long, and staying alive in all three competitions provides Barcelona with no respite. At this point, one must begin to question how many more high-intensity performances the dressing room has in them.

A series of crucial games lie ahead for Barcelona. While Mallorca are no walkover by any means, playing Real Madrid and Inter Milan means the Blaugrana must be at their best.

With so many minutes accumulated in their legs, it will not be easy for Barcelona.

If anything, Flick must start trusting fringe players like Pablo Torre and Eric Garcia more as starters moving forward, for it is unsustainable for Barcelona to keep the current intensity up until the end of the season.

Three crucial points sealed

Barcelona secured a crucial win last night. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

At one point in the game, Barcelona looked certain to drop three points and it raised real concerns over the title race. After all, Real Madrid are just four points off and a win for them would reduce the gap to one point.

When Raphinha equalised and Barcelona played well into extra time, unable to find the winner, it appeared that Real Madrid would have a chance to move within two points of Flick’s side.

The last-minute winner from the Brazilian, however, changed the script entirely and earned Barcelona three points in what may be the most important three points for them all season.

Los Blancos take on Athletic Club later today in a crucial game in terms of the title race. Coming from a defeat in the UCL and with three defeats in their last four games, Real Madrid will not have it easy to take all three points against Ernesto Valverde’s side.

Should they drop points, Barcelona will receive a significant boost to their chances of winning La Liga and can even look to rotate in their coming games. Putting the pressure with three points against Celta was thus crucial and may well prove to be decisive.