Barcelona 2-0 Celta Vigo: Ousmane Dembele and Lionel Messi score in victory

Lionel Messi celebrates — Lionel Messi has scored 15 goals and produced 10 assists in his first 17 league games of the season

Barcelona restored their three-point lead at the top of La Liga with a comfortable home win over Celta Vigo.

Ousmane Dembele opened the scoring on 10 minutes, following up Lionel Messi's saved shot after the Argentine had initially played a delightful ball through to Jordi Alba.

Messi doubled the lead just before half-time, finishing neatly from the edge of the area as the defence parted.

Atletico Madrid had moved level on points with Barca by beating Espanyol.

Antoine Griezmann's penalty gave Atletico a 1-0 victory, but the Catalans re-established their advantage with a fourth straight league win without conceding.

Relive Barcelona's win over Celta Vigo

After a slow start, Celta Vigo grew into the contest but ultimately struggled to create clear-cut opportunities - captain Hugo Mallo wasting their best chance in the first half as he failed to hit the target from close range.

Home goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen was forced into a goalline save from a dangerous corner, before denying substitute Pione Sisto in the closing stages.

At the other end, Ruben Blanco did well to deny Dembele, then produced a good save to keep out Nelson Semedo's effort as Barcelona cruised to victory in their final match of 2018.

Defeat leaves Miguel Cardoso's Celta Vigo 10th in La Liga.

Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text

Line-ups

Barcelona

Formation 4-3-3

1ter Stegen
2Nélson Semedo
3Piqué
15Lenglet
18Alba
22VidalSubstituted forArthurat 62'minutes
5BusquetsSubstituted forAleñáat 86'minutes
4Rakitic
10Messi
9Suárez
11DembéléSubstituted forCoutinhoat 68'minutes

Substitutes

6D Suárez
7Coutinho
8Arthur
13Cillessen
21Aleñá
27Miranda
36Brandáriz

Celta Vigo

Formation 4-4-2

13Blanco
2Mallo
4Araújo
3Costas
15Mazán
23Méndez
5YokusluSubstituted forLobotkaat 45'minutes
21Sánchez
19BoufalSubstituted forSistoat 76'minutes
10Iago AspasBooked at 45minsSubstituted forBeltránat 52'minutes
9Gómez

Substitutes

1Álvarez
8Beltrán
11Sisto
14Lobotka
16Hjulsager
20Vázquez
22Cabral

Referee:: Eduardo Prieto Iglesias
Attendance:: 77,154

Match Stats

Home TeamBarcelonaAway TeamCelta Vigo

Possession: Home52%; Away48%

Shots: Home9; Away11

Shots on Target: Home5; Away1

Corners: Home4; Away6

Fouls: Home14; Away15

Live Text

Post update
Match ends, Barcelona 2, Celta de Vigo 0.
90'+4'
Full Time
Second Half ends, Barcelona 2, Celta de Vigo 0.

90'+3'
Post update
Foul by Coutinho (Barcelona).
90'+3'
Post update
Brais Méndez (Celta de Vigo) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90'+2'
Post update
Attempt missed. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top right corner from a direct free kick.
90'+1'
Post update
Jordi Alba (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90'+1'
Post update
Foul by Hugo Mallo (Celta de Vigo).
90'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Coutinho (Barcelona) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ivan Rakitic.
89'
Post update
Corner, Celta de Vigo. Conceded by Jordi Alba.
86'
Substitution
Substitution, Barcelona. Carles Aleñá replaces Sergio Busquets.
85'
Post update
Coutinho (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
85'
Post update
Foul by Hugo Mallo (Celta de Vigo).
83'
Post update
Attempt missed. Brais Méndez (Celta de Vigo) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Pione Sisto.
82'
Post update
Ivan Rakitic (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
82'
Post update
Foul by Pione Sisto (Celta de Vigo).
81'
Post update
Attempt missed. Fran Beltrán (Celta de Vigo) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Pione Sisto.
80'
Post update
Arthur (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
80'
Post update
Foul by Brais Méndez (Celta de Vigo).
80'
Post update
Coutinho (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
80'
Post update
Foul by Hugo Mallo (Celta de Vigo).

As It Stood

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Barcelona	17	11	4	2	48	19	29	37
2	Atl Madrid	17	9	7	1	25	12	13	34
3	Sevilla	16	9	4	3	29	16	13	31
4	Real Madrid	16	9	2	5	24	19	5	29

5	Alavés	17	8	4	5	19	17	2	28
6	Real Betis	17	7	5	5	20	19	1	26

7	Getafe	17	6	7	4	18	13	5	25
8	Girona	17	5	7	5	18	20	-2	22
9	Levante	16	6	4	6	27	30	-3	22
10	Celta Vigo	17	5	6	6	28	26	2	21
11	Real Valladolid	17	5	6	6	16	19	-3	21
12	Eibar	17	5	6	6	21	25	-4	21
13	Espanyol	17	6	3	8	18	24	-6	21
14	Valencia	16	3	10	3	13	13	0	19
15	Real Sociedad	17	5	4	8	18	20	-2	19
16	Leganés	16	4	6	6	15	19	-4	18
17	Ath Bilbao	17	2	10	5	16	24	-8	16

18	Villarreal	16	3	6	7	17	21	-4	15
19	Rayo Vallecano	16	2	4	10	15	31	-16	10
20	Huesca	16	1	5	10	14	32	-18	8

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Comments

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30 comments

Comment posted by Scouser Since 1966, at 20:04 22 Dec 2018
This is why Messi is better than CR7!!!
Comment posted by Arch Stanton, at 21:03 22 Dec 2018
Thought Celta were pretty good and probably deserved a goal. After all they drew twice last year with Barca. Alba was superb, Suarez should have had one, and there's only one player in the World who can send the keeper the wrong way with a shot from the edge of the box, How did he do that?
Comment posted by BRIAN666, at 20:01 22 Dec 2018
Far better achievement than Madrid winning that silly trophy - good job Barca
Comment posted by killerhippy, at 22:19 22 Dec 2018
Another game another goal.
Comment posted by Martarslipstick, at 07:17 23 Dec 2018
10. Posted by Taxi Driver on
22 Dec 2018 23:15
"Who cares.
We scored 5!"

If you insist on being a glory-hunter, at least glory-hunt properly with a club that actually wins things like Barcelona for example.
Comment posted by Ed Lice, at 22:32 22 Dec 2018
Well done Barca.
Comment posted by Rseer, at 20:36 22 Dec 2018
If you think this victory is impressive remember Madrid beat the titans of Al Ain today
Comment posted by Newyork, at 10:31 23 Dec 2018
Man City offered Messi 1 million a week & he still turned it down. He knows he’s at the best club, its not all about money for some!!
Comment posted by Arch Stanton, at 09:59 23 Dec 2018
13.

Wages, massive, not excessive, for good reason!

The argument that it's harder to score in EPL or Serie A is rubbish. In 2017-18, total goals (over 380 games):
Serie A - 1017
EPL - 1018
La Liga - 1024

But the jealous and naive keep bleating on with a poor argument.
Comment posted by Another User, at 11:15 23 Dec 2018
17. Posted by AJH. no, because he scored more than ronaldo. because he created more then ronaldo. because he is in a different class to ronaldo. and yes, he doesn't use a mirror to check who is best. there is no debate, he is just a class above the rest!
Comment posted by Arch Stanton, at 12:11 23 Dec 2018
My post 20.
I meant Wonaldo couldn't score with 10 shots and his missed with an overhead kick too. All show.

Messi is so clinical. Watch his goal.
Comment posted by Wooster, at 21:46 22 Dec 2018
@6 What gives you any more right to denounce curling?
Comment posted by Arch Stanton, at 11:51 23 Dec 2018
Ronaldo had 10 shots against Roma and could score. 10! Give Messi 10 shots at goal. . . .
Comment posted by Newyork, at 12:52 23 Dec 2018
Some people bang on about the premier league being the best league. Why is it that in Europe, spainish teams have knocked out 24 of the last 27 English teams & won 16 to EPL
6. European competitions.
Comment posted by Another User, at 11:23 23 Dec 2018
7. Posted by Wooster. what gives you the impression I denounced curling? it is a beautiful game. this is just I warmly recommend it to all those who are bored with football. I take it you are also a fan, nice one!
Comment posted by Arch Stanton, at 17:30 23 Dec 2018
11. The Mighty Aston Villa Lion

What in heaven's name are you talking about. You can't even beat Leeds when your 2:0 up! Class bit of defending, not.
Comment posted by U17133618, at 22:33 23 Dec 2018
Yes good win for Barcelona! They along with the others are more decent than those lowlifes Real!
Comment posted by Newyork, at 16:24 23 Dec 2018
Santaclaws,Real Madrid have more European cups than all the English teams put together 13, Barça 5. 18 in total. The point i was making is that the EPL undoubtedly has more money than other leagues since its foundation but the return in Europe has been poor compared to spainish clubs.
Comment posted by User0045461742, at 17:09 23 Dec 2018
@newyork. Whatever point you were trying to make, you claimed incorrect facts. That was my point. I am aware of Real Madrid's unbelievable record in Europe and don't need you to quote them to me. That said, maybe it is easy to be successful if you are state sponsored.
Comment posted by Arch Stanton, at 17:38 23 Dec 2018
27. Santapaws

What Dutch clubs, plural?
Ajax and ?

By the way, your posts smack of sour grapes. Enjoy your whine . . .