Barcelona, Nov 7: Xavi Hernández had plenty to like and much more to lament about Barcelona’s wild 3-3 draw at Celta Vigo, when his soon-to-be team squandered a three-goal halftime lead.
Playing its final match under caretaker coach Sergi Barjuan before Xavi takes over as its new full-time manager, Barcelona roared out to a 3-0 lead after playing one of its best halves of the season.
But injuries to 19-year-olds Ansu Fati and Nico González, who were having inspired performances, and the resurgence of its defensive doubts helped Iago Aspas lead Celta back with his second-half brace.
Aspas capped the comeback with a second goal on one of the final kicks of the match when he scored from long range while Barcelona was hunkered down in its box begging for the final whistle.
Barcelona remained in ninth place with its horizon of success narrowing to simply securing a top-four finish to ensure its spot in the Champions League. Real Madrid increased the gap between Barcelona and the top of the standings to 10 points after beating Rayo Vallecano 2-1.
The draw in Vigo came hours after Barcelona announced that Xavi had agreed to sign through 2024.
Sergio Busquets, Xavi’s old teammate, doubled the advantage in the 18th with a rare goal for the veteran. And Barcelona looked ready to roll to a big win after Depay sliced a header home from a cross by Jordi Alba after a key pass by Nico in the 34th.
Celta took the initiative when Aspas pulled one back in the 52nd. The striker finished off a ball that Marc-Andre ter Stegen failed to clear a poorly blocked a shot. Barcelona was then on the defensive when Nolito Agudo’s 74th-minute header cut the deficit to one.
Real Madrid needed Toni Kroos to excel on both ends of the field to ensure it took a two-point lead before second-place Real Sociedad visits Osasuna on Sunday.
The German midfielder volleyed in an assist from Marco Asensio in the 15th before Karim Benzema increased his league-leading tally to 10 goals from a well-placed pass by David Alaba.
Rayo rallied with substitute Radamel Falcao pulling one back in the 76th. (AP)
