LaLiga Points Table: Pedri’s goal helped Barcelona earn an agonising 1-0 win over Celta Vigo to move back top of La Liga on Sunday. After Real Madrid beat Getafe, Barcelona knew they had to beat the Galicians to head into next Sunday’s Clasico as league leaders, but Celta did not make it easy for them. With Barcelona clutching a narrow advantage, the visitors came close to an equaliser at Camp Nou and Marc-Andre ter Stegen earned a sixth consecutive domestic clean sheet with a brilliant save from Iago Aspas late on. Follow La Liga LIVE updates on Insidesport.IN
Barcelona vs Celta Vigo Highlights: BAR 1-0 CLV, Barcelona RETAKES La Liga Top Spot, Pedri’s SOLITARY goal earns 3 Points for Catalans – Check Highlights
Goncalo Paciencia hit the post in stoppage time with the Catalans on the ropes, begging for the whistle. “We had a great second half, with four, or five, or six clear chances, but if you don’t score at Camp Nou then it’s normal that you lose,” Aspas told DAZN. “They ended up wasting time on throw-ins.”
🎙 Xavi: #BarçaCelta can teach us things for #ElClásico pic.twitter.com/E8yddjue0x
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 10, 2022
It was the kind of performance which does not bode well for Barcelona’s crucial Champions League clash with Inter Milan on Wednesday. “Playing like we did in the second half it will be very hard (to beat Inter), but in the first half yes, we have to maintain that level,” said Barca coach Xavi Hernandez. “Today we had the luck of having a great goalkeeper, but we have to improve, we have to be self-critical.” Xavi started left-back Marcos Alonso in central defence, alongside Gerard Pique, partly due to injury problems, but otherwise picked his strongest side available.
“UEFA is a mafia,” chanted a sector of Barcelona fans, after president Joan Laporta advocated for the Super League again at the club members’ annual general meeting on Sunday morning, but their focus soon snapped back to the game.
Marc ter Stegen in @LaLiga this season:
8 games
7 clean sheets
1 goal conceded
720 minutes played
Last 624 no goals against pic.twitter.com/Kr84wjJYy9— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 10, 2022
Barcelona missed a slew of early chances, with Ferran Torres unable to reach a tempting cross and having another effort saved by Agustin Marchesin, while the goalkeeper also did well to claw out a rasping drive from Raphinha.
The pressure soon told and Pedri sent Barcelona ahead in the 17th minute, with Celta defender Unai Nunez accidentally teeing up the Spanish midfielder when he tried to cut out Gavi’s cross. Jordi Alba blasted into the side netting and Pedri delighted fans with a burst forward from midfield, as Barcelona continued to dominate. However, Celta started the second half in determined fashion. Marcos Alonso made a fine block to deny Oscar Rodriguez from close range as the visitors pushed for the equaliser. Xavi responded with a triple change, hooking wingers Torres and Raphinha, as well as resting Pedri for the Inter game.
His side clung on for the points, making it seven wins on the spin in La Liga, this one coming far harder than the rest. “We have to improve, we can’t concede so many chances in a game that was more or less under control,” added Alonso. Elsewhere Brais Mendez continued his brilliant goalscoring form to earn Real Sociedad a 1-0 win over Villarreal and send the Basque side sixth in La Liga. The winger now has five goals in six matches in Spain’s top flight, with his well-taken 32nd-minute strike securing a deserved triumph for Imanol Alguacil’s team. Real Betis, fifth, drew 0-0 at Real Valladolid and Joselu scored twice for Espanyol in a 2-2 draw at Cadiz.
LaLiga Points Table: Nervy Barcelona cling on to beat Celta Vigo and top La Liga, Real Sociedad beat Villarreal
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