Lewandowski Hat-Trick Inspires Barcelona to 4–2 Win Over Celta Vigo, Closing Gap on Real Madrid

Robert Lewandowski produced a stunning hat-trick as Barcelona beat Celta Vigo 4–2 to move within three points of La Liga leaders Real Madrid.

The Polish striker opened the scoring in the ninth minute, calmly converting a penalty after Marcos Alonso handled Fermin Lopez’s shot inside the area.

Celta hit back almost immediately — just 22 seconds later — when Sergio Carreira finished off a rapid counterattack, punishing Marcus Rashford’s missed one-on-one moments earlier.

Rashford redeemed himself in the 36th minute, delivering a pinpoint cross that Lewandowski volleyed home to restore Barcelona’s lead. But the hosts responded again before half-time, with Borja Iglesias curling a brilliant effort into the top corner from the edge of the box to make it 2–2.

Teenage sensation Lamine Yamal put Barça ahead for a third time in first-half stoppage time, turning in Rashford’s deflected cross at the back post.

Lewandowski sealed his hat-trick — and Barcelona’s victory — in the 73rd minute, rising highest to head in Rashford’s corner at the near post.

The 37-year-old now boasts three La Liga hat-tricks, adding to the 16 he recorded during his prolific Bundesliga career with Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.

Barcelona were forced to finish the match with 10 men after Frenkie de Jong received a second yellow card for tripping Iago Aspas in stoppage time.

The victory allowed the defending champions to capitalise on Real Madrid’s earlier stumble — a goalless draw with Rayo Vallecano — and close the gap at the top of the table to just three points.