Madrid (AFP)
FC Barcelona won their second victory in as many matches on Thursday night at Celta Vigo (3-0), despite the exclusion of their French defender Clément Lenglet just before the break (42nd), at the end of the 4th day of the Spanish Championship.
In pouring rain and behind closed doors, the Catalans scored by the young prodigy Ansu Fati (11th), Lucas Olaza against his camp, on a cross from Lionel Messi (51st), and Sergi Roberto in added time (90 + 5 ).
The new Barça coach, the Dutchman Ronald Koeman, had aligned the same starting XI as the one who had outclassed Villarreal (4-0, with a double from Fati) at Camp Nou last Sunday, especially with the attack line Griezmann- Messi-Coutinho-Fati.
Clearly domineering, Messi's teammates were reduced to ten in the 42nd minute when Clément Lenglet was sent off for a second yellow card received following an obstruction on former Barcelona player Denis Suarez.
In the process, Koeman chose to rebalance his team and replace Griezmann, very discreet on his right wing, with Ronald Araujo (45 + 2).
With six points on the clock and two games late, Barça are 5th, one length behind a group made up of Getafe (3 games), Valencia (4 games), Real Madrid (3 games) and Villarreal (4 games) .
Getafe and Valencia won on Tuesday, against Real Betis (3-0) and Real Sociedad (1-0) respectively, while Real and Villarreal won on Wednesday against Valladolid (1-0) and Alavés (3 -1).
In the early evening on Thursday, Cadiz, despite two exclusions, won on the field of Athletic Bilbao (1-0) and Sevilla defeated Levante (1-0).
The Granada-Osasuna meeting has been postponed, Granada playing this Thursday in the Europa League.
© 2020 AFP