FC Barcelona vs Celta de Vigo: Barça’s win marks record breaking start (3-1)

Barcelona (FCB).- Tito Vilanova’s Barça march on, with their latest win coming against Celta de Vigo at the Camp Nou. Despite missing Abidal, Puyol and Piqué, the defence stood strong again, with Alba and Adriano also chipping in with goals before the Brazilian was taken off injured. The win means FC Barcelona have made a record breaking start to the Spanish League campaign, with nine wins and a draw in their first ten matches, being eight points ahead from Real Madrid.

One from the right…

Barça’s Manager plumped for a three man defence in an attacking looking line up, with Busquets playing the holding role in the middle and FC Barcelona were soon dominating possession and creating chances. Messi had the first with an attempted chip, before a well worked move down the right ended with a one-two between Pedro and Adriano, which the Brazilian finished off with all the panache of a born striker, rather than one of that three man back line.

Celta equaliser

Celta were also working hard in defence and continued to try and bring the ball out from the back under control, which they did for their equaliser soon after, when Krohn-Dehli set up a move that saw  Álex López’s shot parried out by Valdes only as far as Berme, who put the ball away to make it 1-1. It wasn’t the Barça keeper’s first touch though, as he’d already made a good stop from a one on one with Iago Aspas.

… and one from the left

The draw didn’t last long however, as Barça hit back minutes later. This time it was an incursion down the left flank, with Iniesta and Voilla combining for the Asturian front man to again put FC Barcelona in front, firing past Varas, who proved to be rather less decisive this time around. Messi then nearly made it three before the break, but the hosts had to settle for a single goal lead at half time.

Alba gets third

Alves had come on for the injured Adriano on 40 minutes and Vilanova brought on Bartra for Cesc for the second half to give the team more defensive solidity. Celta’s well organised defence proved a tough nut to crack though and only a brilliant exchange between Villa and Alba brought about the definitive third goal on the hour mark.

With the game looking pretty much done and dusted, Barça played out the final half hour comfortably, with the only hint of a problem coming when Messi received a knock late on.