Madrid, Feb 18: Robert Lewandowski converted a penalty kick in stoppage time after missing his first attempt for Barcelona to win at Celta Vigo 2-1, relieving some pressure on the club ahead of a Champions League playoff.
Lewandowski’s first attempt was saved by Celta goalkeeper Vicente Guaita, but the Poland striker received a chance to retake the penalty after video review determined Guaita moved off the goal-line before Lewandowski shot.
The veteran then rolled the ball into the corner in the seventh minute of stoppage time to give Barcelona the victory after the home draw against Granada in the previous round, when it was jeered by its fans.
Barcelona visits Napoli on Wednesday in the first leg of the round of 16. The five-time European champion is back in the Champions League knockout rounds after two consecutive eliminations in the group stage.
“It was an agonizing win but it was well deserved,” Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández said.
Xavi has been under added pressure despite announcing recently he will step down as Barcelona coach after the season. The team has won 10 of 12 points since he made the announcement.
Barcelona is two points behind second-placed Girona.
Barcelona has a three-point gap on fourth-placed Atletico Madrid, which routed Las Palmas 5-0.
Rayo Vallecano hold
Real Madrid
Real Madrid could see its Spanish league lead reduced after being held to a 1-1 draw at Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.
Joselu put Madrid ahead only three minutes into the match against its southern Madrid rival, but the hosts equalized through Raúl de Tomás in the 27th.
The draw moved Madrid six points clear of second-place Girona.
It was a disappointing result for Madrid against a Rayo team that had lost three consecutive league matches and hasn’t won in seven straight.
Real Madrid remains unbeaten in its last 19 league games, with 14 wins and five draws. The Spanish giants failed to scored only once, in a 0-0 draw against Rayo in November. (AP)
