Barcelona’s 4-3 comeback win over Celta Vigo showed the team’s resilience to Hansi Flick, though the coach was concerned by the sight of Robert Lewandowski going off injured.
Raphinha’s 98th-minute penalty gave Barcelona a crucial victory as they bolstered their lead at the top of LaLiga, pulling seven points clear of Real Madrid.
Madrid are in action on Sunday, when they host Europa League semi-finalists Athletic Bilbao, doing so without the suspended Kylian Mbappe.
After Ferran Torres opened the scoring on Saturday, Barca found themselves trailing 3-1 with over an hour played, with Borja Iglesias netting a hat-trick for Celta.
However, Dani Olmo halved the deficit before Raphinha’s two goals – the second coming from the spot deep into stoppage time – sealed a memorable win.
“When we win, we like these kinds of games. We’ve played against a very good team, they’ve had good results in the last 10 games, as I said yesterday in the press conference. Their coach is doing a fantastic job,” Flick said.
“I think the goals we conceded have nothing to do with our pressing. We usually press very well, but today we made mistakes. We made it very easy for the opponent.
“But the team did everything, we didn’t give up. That’s the mentality we have right now. It’s great.
“I don’t want to talk about the mistakes my players made. I think that everyone can see that the team didn’t give up, they did their best for 90 minutes and we got the three points.”
FULL TIME!!!! WHAT A COMEBACK!WHAT A COMEBACK!WHAT A COMEBACK!WHAT A COMEBACK!#BARÇACELTA pic.twitter.com/PtCxHbhRcL
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 19, 2025
After his brace, Raphinha has now scored 30 goals in all competitions this season and Flick could not contain his delight with the Brazilian’s display.
“I hugged Raphinha because things weren’t going his way in the first half. I told him to think positively and in the second, it showed,” Flick said.
“At half-time I told Raphinha, ‘Come on, think positively. We need you on the pitch as a leader.’ Then he went in and put in that performance.”
But Barcelona face a nervous wait regarding Lewandowski’s condition after the Poland striker went down clutching his leg and was taken off late in the game.
A hamstring injury could now rule the 36-year-old – who has 40 goals this season – out of the Copa del Rey final against Madrid next week, while Barca also face Inter in the Champions League semi-finals later this month.
“Lewandowski will have an MRI tomorrow. We have to wait for the results, we’ll know more about his injury,” Flick said.
