Barça is on track to retain its La Liga title. It still needs to be definitively validated. Real Madrid’s proud reaction yesterday against Alavés (2-1) at least had the merit of maintaining a semblance of suspense before the Clasico on May 10 at the Nou Camp. Before this evening’s reception of Celta de Vigo (33rd day), the Catalans were still 6 steps ahead of their best enemy. They could even be crowned before Real arrives on their lawn, or at the end of this confrontation, which would be no less humiliating for the Madrilenians. They were obviously going into the game as favorites for the reception of a team having just taken six in two Europa League matches, but still in the fight for a European place at the end of the season.
Without Raphinha injured and Lewandowski, left on the bench, Hansi Flick’s men relied on the inevitable Lamine Yamal, author of a first good situation after only a few seconds of play (1st). Pablo Duran responded immediately by forcing Joan Garcia into a horizontal (2nd). This strong start did not really have an effect on the rest of the evening, which would still experience some events. In a meeting where the pace had clearly dropped a notch, Joao Cancelo was injured (23rd), replaced by Baldé. Formerly of the house, Jutgla tried to remember the good memories of his training club (15th) but it was Yamal who managed to resolve the situation.
Lamine Yamal was injured while scoring his penalty
After another thrill (29th), the star obtained a logical penalty after a nice number in the area. He transformed the situation himself (1-0, 40th) but injured himself behind his left thigh on his shot and returned without delay to the locker room, the grimace clearly visible on his face. Not good news less than three weeks before the Clasico, and especially a few weeks before the World Cup. In the process, the match had to stop for more than 20 minutes following the intervention of emergency services in the stands. Yamal’s replacement, Roony Bardghji, almost took advantage of the opportunity to double the lead before the break, which finally came in the 45th + 23! After these two plays, Barça needed to reconnect.
The entry of Fermin Lopez at the break had the merit of putting the Catalan attack to work (47th, 50th). Pedri then delivered a love cross for Torres’ perfect volley under the bar (55th), finally refused by the VAR for an offside of the thickness of the jersey. Barça still found itself at the mercy of a team, 3rd in La Liga in away results. To confirm these good dispositions, the entry of Mingueza (64th) did good, less those of Rashford and De Jong for Culés in management at the end of the match. Celta may have had one last situation on a free kick to equalize (90th + 3), the score has not changed. Barça is satisfied with this 1-0 success which offers nine points ahead of Real. All eyes are mainly on Yamal’s health…
