Barcelona’s amazing comeback against Celta Vigo on Saturday, according to coach Xavi Hernandez, was a reflection of the generational shift in the country.
Barça defeated Celta 3-2 at the Olympic Stadium after Robert Lewandowski scored twice in the final ten minutes and João Cancelo added a goal in the 89th.
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According to ESPN Stats and Information, Barcelona’s late comeback made them the only La Liga side to win after trailing by multiple goals going into the 80th minute in the previous 14 seasons. Teams that trailed by multiple goals in the last ten minutes of a game during that time were 0-17-1,963.
Barça, who have won all six of their La Liga games this season, surged to the top of the standings ahead of Real Madrid’s match against Atletico Madrid on Sunday. “It was a spectacular comeback,” Xavi remarked during a press conference.
Until the very end, we firmly believed.
We bravely and with trust played. That was a victory-driven comeback. These are the attributes you need when you’re not playing well.
“We were taking more and more chances, with two players in the back and every other man on the pitch being an attacker. We had to take a chance, and it worked.
This demonstrates the generational shift in our society. Even after falling behind 2-0 at home, these players never give up and persevere to the very end.
Gavi, [Alejando] Balde, Lamine [Yamal]… this is a pivotal moment for our victorious character today. Though we haven’t played well on the pitch, faith and epic character are what matter most.”Jörgen Strand Larsen’s goal in the first half had given Celta the lead, and Anastasios Douvikas’ strike ten minutes from time silenced the home crowd and appeared to complete an unexpected victory for the guests.
But two goals from Lewandowski, first set up by Cancelo and then by João Félix, opened the door for a wonderful cross from Gavi that gave Cancelo the thrilling victory.
Xavi identified midfielder Gavi as the key player in the turnaround, noting that he came on in the first half to replace the injured Frenkie de Jong.
“Gavi would be the ideal candidate to personify the comeback,” the coach continued. However, this was a group effort. The goal by [Celta] in the 80th minute was a crushing blow; Barça often can’t recover from it.”
Without the outstanding saves produced by Barça custodian Marc-André ter Stegen, Celta may have been out of sight in the second half.
“People would have said it was fair if we had won 4-2,” Celta coach Rafa Benitez stated at a press conference. As has happened in previous games this season, when we have put in a lot of effort, we walk away feeling like we’ll never do it again.
“We lacked a purpose in the last minutes to stop the game a little and prevent the situations the players created, so I told the players at the end they should be angry and annoyed.”
Notwithstanding the joy of the victory, Xavi acknowledged that Barça still had a long way to go.
The Barça manager said, “I agree with everything [Benitez] said.” “We have to compete more effectively and with greater drive. When we lost the ball, we were not very good at pushing. We shall learn from the possibility of losing.
“We’re on the same route as we were with the 5-0 victories against Real Betis and Antwerp, so while the win tastes great, it’s not better than that. The route consists of those matches, strong performance, and improved ball movement. The squad suffers greatly when we lose focus.”
De Jong’s ankle injury also hindered Barça’s performance, and according to sources who spoke with ESPN, early estimates indicate that he will miss more than a month of action.
“We must wait and see after Sunday’s tests,” Xavi stated. He is a formidable opponent who doesn’t play around. There’s a reason if he’s asked to remove himself. It’s hopefully not too horrible.
FAQs
1.What took place during Barcelona’s encounter with Celta Vigo?
Barcelona defeated Celta Vigo 3-2 after mounting a stunning comeback from a multiple-goal deficit in the 80th minute.
2. Who scored Barcelona’s goals in the comeback?
In the last ten minutes, Robert Lewandowski scored twice, and João Cancelo added another goal in the 89th to guarantee the win.
3. With this victory, what records did Barcelona break?
In the last 14 seasons, Barcelona is the only La Liga side to win despite trailing by more than one goal entering the 80th minute. Previous teams trailed by more than one goal in the final ten minutes were 0-17-1,963.
4.What was Xavi Hernandez’s description of the return?
It was described as a “spectacular comeback” by Xavi, who also commended the team’s faith, trust, and winning mentality.
5.Which young players was Xavi mentioning as being crucial to the win?
Gavi, Alejandro Balde, and Lamine Yamal were cited by Xavi as having made significant contributions to the team’s generational transition.
6.Who did Xavi identify as the pivotal figure in the recovery?
Xavi recognised midfielder Gavi as the main contributor to the comeback, even if it was a team effort.
7.What was said about the game by Rafa Benitez, the coach of Celta Vigo?
In the closing minutes, Rafa Benitez lamented Celta’s inability to maintain the lead and emphasised the need for greater focus.
8.Despite the victory, what does Xavi acknowledge about Barcelona’s performance?
Xavi stated that Barcelona still needs to compete more forcefully, more efficiently, and with better ball movement and concentration.
9.After the game, how is Frenkie de Jong doing?
After suffering an ankle injury, Frenkie de Jong might be sidelined for almost a month, according to preliminary estimations.
10.What does the coach of Barcelona think about De Jong’s injury?
Even though Xavi said they would have to wait for test results, he underlined how serious De Jong’s injury is and why he may be requested to be removed.