Robert Lewandowski announced his return to fitness by scoring a hat-trick, as Barcelona closed the gap on Spanish League leaders Real Madrid with an untidy 4-2 win away to Celta Vigo.
The Catalan club took advantage of Real Madrid’s goalless draw with Rayo Vallecano earlier in the day to return to second place, only three points behind.
Lewandowski, who returned last week in a short match as a substitute after a muscle injury that kept him out of action for a month, scored his first goals with the club since the end of September.
On-loan Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford had two assists for two of Lewandowski’s goals, and also had a hand in Lamin Yamal’s goal in first-half extra time.
Celta, which has drawn seven times in its last 11 matches, did not make things easy for them despite receiving a penalty kick in the 10th minute.
Fermin Lopez’s shot was blocked by Marcos Alonso’s hand, and although goalkeeper Ionut Radu guessed the right direction, diving to his left, Lewandowski’s penalty was too strong.
Rashford should have doubled the lead less than a minute later but his shot was saved and 19 seconds later Sergio Carrera equalised, launching Barcelona’s impossibly high line down the halfway line to slot in Borja Iglesias’ through ball.
Barcelona regained the lead eight minutes before half-time when Lewandowski converted Rashford’s cross from the right into the six-yard box.
Once again, the home side responded, this time in some fashion, with Iglesias’ shot from the edge of the box beating Wojciech Szczesny for pace.
However, they were unable to maintain the tie until halftime as Yamal fired the ball into the far corner after Rashford’s cross was deflected into his path.
Rashford and Dani Olmo both blocked shots as Barcelona continued to press before Lewandowski completed his hat-trick, his first for Barcelona in more than a year, in the 73rd minute to take his club’s tally to nine this season.
The Polish international met Rashford’s corner at the near post and headed across goal and inside the far post.
It was the Englishman’s sixth assist of the season, better than either Yamal or Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior.
The only downside to the performance was that Frenkie de Jong was sent off in stoppage time for a second yellow card.
