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ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI UNSTOPPABLE — BARCELONA BLAST CELTA, TITLE CHASE HEATS UP

Robert Lewandowski's hat-trick fires Barcelona to a thrilling 4-2 win at Celta Vigo, moving them second. Lamine Yamal also scored and Marcus Rashford provided two assists in a victory marred by Frenkie de Jong's late red card.

Robert Lewandowski unstoppable — Barcelona blast Celta, title chase heats up
Lewandowski powers Barca closer - Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images

At Rayo Vallecano, Hansi Flick's team took advantage of Madrid's 0-0 tie earlier, thanks to the experienced Polish striker's hat-trick.

In yet another exciting match brought upon by the champions' offensive strategy, teenager Lamine Yamal also scored for Barcelona, while Marcus Rashford provided two additional assists.

Barca's Frenkie de Jong was sent off late in the game after receiving two yellow cards, but the champions had already won and were in second place.

Lewandowski told Movistar, "Vigo is usually tough for us, but we have fewer points (between us and Real Madrid) today."

"We talked at halftime about how we could improve, but in the first half, Celta scored with ease. In the second half, we had the game more under control."

A frantic first half resulted from Flick's insistence that Barcelona would not alter their style despite recent setbacks, particularly Wednesday's 3–3 Champions League stalemate with Club Brugge.

Ten minutes after Marcos Alonso stopped Fermin Lopez's attempt, the champions took the lead through a penalty kick from Lewandowski, but Celta equalised a minute later.

Celta surged away to score after Lopez threw Rashford through, but Rashford wasted a one-on-one opportunity.

Sergio Carreira sprinted in behind after the Galicians took advantage of Barcelona's high defensive line, and he maintained composure to defeat Wojciech Szczesny.

Flick urged his squad to put up more of a fight without Pedri, Raphinha, and Joan Garcia, among other injured players, and they appeared more motivated at Balaidos.

Ionut Radu of Celta stopped Lewandowski from close range as he followed up, Rashford turned the rebound against the post, and Ilaix Moriba blocked Lopez's attempt.

Resuming his best form, Lewandowski pushed Barca ahead on 37 minutes with his second goal after an inviting cross from Rashford. Radu could have done better with his shot, but it slipped past him.

Two minutes before halftime, Borja Iglesias hammered a rocket from the edge of the box over Szczesny and into the back of the net as Celta swiftly responded once more.

But when Yamal, a teenage sensation, beat Radu at his near post after Rashford's deflected cross, Barca took the lead.

Compared to the chaotic first half, both teams were much more stable in the second half and had a lot fewer opportunities.

Despite being behind, Celta was forced to sit back as Barcelona controlled the ball.

After 73 minutes, Lewandowski gave his team a two-goal lead with a header from Rashford's corner to complete his hat-trick.

The striker's seventh league goal of the season in just four starts demonstrated that, despite a season marred by injuries, his finishing ability has not decreased at the age of 37.

Rashford, who is now on loan at Manchester United, has contributed seven La Liga assists to help cover for the injured Raphinha.

After beating Radu, Yamal broke away and had a chance to score Barca's fifth goal late on, but his low drive struck the post.

Barca suffered a setback when De Jong was sent off for a second yellow card in stoppage time for stepping on Iago Aspas's foot.

Barcelona's triumph gave Flick and his team more confidence ahead of the forthcoming international break after they had only won two of their previous ten league games away from home at Balaidos.

Lewandowski stated, "We have two weeks to unplug now, but I hope we play a lot better when we come back. It is the perfect chance to improve things that are not functioning."

"I told Flick that I did not need a nap. I am so thrilled and feel great physically today."

REPORT: HANSI FLICK RELEGATES MARC-ANDRé TER STEGEN TO THIRD CHOICE; GIRONA MOVE NOW HIGHLY LIKELY

Girona are planning a shock January loan for Marc-André ter Stegen. Can the Catalan side agree on wages with Barcelona today?

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Ter Stegen To Leave Barcelona

Girona's management is planning to sign a big La Liga player: Barcelona's Marc-André ter Stegen.

Mundo Deportivo recently reported Girona's surprising interest, saying they're ready to get the German keeper this winter if they get a chance.

Signing a player like him costs a lot, but Girona is determined to do what it takes to make their team stronger. They can't afford to buy him outright, so they're looking at a loan. For that to happen, either Ter Stegen or Barcelona needs to give up quite a bit of money.

Girona thinks the 33-year-old German would quickly fix their goalie problem. They're hoping his presence will steady the defense and bring leadership.

The report also mentions that the player is open to the move. At 33, he needs to play every week to stay the starting goalie for Germany in the next World Cup.

Barcelona seems okay with letting him go for a while, but the money is still the issue. Girona just can't afford his full salary without help.

It all depends on two things: Barcelona will have to pay part of his wages, or Ter Stegen must take a pay cut to join Estadi Montilivi. Previous reports said Barcelona doesn't want to force their captain out. Aston Villa has also reportedly reached out to the German.

Barcelona should value the player more than his salary.

Barcelona needs to be smart about this. They need to protect their finances while taking care of a club legend who still has a lot of value. There's no point in keeping a top earner on the bench. Instead, the team should make the loan happen to keep him in shape all season.

If the German just sits around, his transfer value will drop. The club would also lose their advantage when it's time to sell him later. Joan Laporta and Deco should work out a deal where they cover some of his pay. They should view that cost as an investment to keep his value high, not just waste money.

Looking ahead, this move seems like the end of Ter Stegen's time at Camp Nou. If he leaves now, it clearly shows that Barcelona is moving on to younger goalies. The clubs will probably find a compromise on the wages soon. Everyone wants this to happen. Girona gets a top-notch goalie, Barcelona eases some tension in the locker room, and Ter Stegen gets to chase his World Cup dreams.

BARCELONA MOVE FOR FORMER LA MASIA STAR ADRIAN BERNABé BEFORE VALUE SKYROCKETS

Barcelona is eyeing a reunion with La Masia graduate Adrian Bernabé. Discover how the Parma star became an affordable target.

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Barcelona Eyes Affordable January Fix

Barcelona is super aware that money is tight, and they can't just sign anyone they want. They need to be smart about who they bring in, focusing on players who won't break the bank and who will fit how the team plays.

With this in mind, Barca has been watching a familiar face: Adrian Bernabe. He used to play in Barca's youth system and has been doing well in Italy, according to Fichajes.

The club thinks he's grown into a player who would do well in their current system. At 24, he's a key player for Parma and could be a good addition to the team.

Bernabe is mainly a central midfielder. He left Barcelona for Manchester City back in 2018, hoping to learn a lot. He played a bit under Pep Guardiola but didn't get a ton of playing time because of the competition.

That's why he moved to Parma in 2021, which seemed like a step down at the time. But it was a good move. Parma trusted him and gave him a big role, which helped him grow.

He really stepped up as a leader, running the midfield and controlling the game. He was a big part of Parma getting promoted to Serie A, and this season he's been playing great.

Barcelona likes Bernabe because he's got skills, vision, and understands how to play his position. He's good at moving the ball, making smart passes, and playing with discipline. Plus, he can shoot from far out and is good on set pieces, which is a bonus.

This wouldn't be a huge signing, but it fits with what Barcelona is trying to do right now, which is get players who are ready to play right away without costing too much. The fact that Bernabe came up through La Masia and played under Guardiola is a plus.

He's got a contract with Parma until 2027, so Barca would have to talk to them to make a deal. Still, his age, how much he makes, and his familiarity with Barcelona's style of play make him an affordable option.

Apparently, people close to Bernabe are happy about Barcelona's interest, but there's no rush to make anything happen just yet.

Barcelona will keep watching him as things progress. Bringing back a former player who has developed somewhere else would suit the club's current plans.

They're definitely interested; they like what he can do, and he's still an option as Barcelona tries to strengthen the team without losing sight of their values.

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