2/17/2024-|Last update: 2/18/2024 12:22 AM (Mecca time)
Polish Robert Lewandowski put his defending champion Barcelona back on the winning track by scoring a brace in a difficult and late victory over host Celta Vigo 2-1 on Saturday in the 25th stage of the Spanish Football League.
Barcelona returned to the winning tone after its disappointing draw against its guest Granada 3-3 in the last stage, raising its score to 54 points in third place, two points behind its Catalan neighbor Girona II, who plays for Athletic Bilbao on Monday, and with a difference of 7 points behind its traditional rival, Real Madrid, the leaders before. His confrontation with Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.
Why did Lewandowski retake the penalty kick a second time?#La Liga #Barcelona pic.twitter.com/7pnXbJiEfu
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) February 17, 2024
Coach Xavi Hernandez’s team owes the victory to Lewandowski, who scored the two goals (45 and 90 + 7 from a penalty kick).
The former Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund star raised his tally to 12 goals in the league this season.
Barcelona’s victory was not convincing before its trip to Italy to face Napoli on Wednesday in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final, while Celta Vigo’s balance stopped at 20 points in 17th place.
Barcelona struggled to impose its advantage and waited for the 45th minute to score against its host.
Celta Vigo succeeded in equalizing at the beginning of the second half through its veteran captain Iago Aspas (47).
While the match was drawing its last breath, the Poland captain snatched the three points by scoring the winning goal from a penalty kick in the 97th minute.
Atletico sweeps
Atletico Madrid prepared for its match with Italian Inter in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final, by sweeping its guest, Las Palmas, with a clean score by Marcos Llorente (15 and 20), Argentine Angel Correa (47 and 62 from a penalty kick), and substitute Memphis Depay (87).
“Colchoneros” gained a dose of confidence after 3 matches during which he did not taste victory in various competitions, and before his visit to Milan to face Inter on Tuesday in the main continental competition.
The capital club is now 10 points behind its neighbor Real Madrid, which faces host Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, and 5 points behind Girona II, the surprise of the season, which is visiting Athletic Bilbao on Monday at the end of this stage’s competitions.
