If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again. After losing twice against Celta Vigo in the last 18 months, Barcelona defeated their bogey team as a Luis Suarez hat-trick, along with strikes from Lionel Messi, Ivan Rakitic and Neymar, overcame John Guidetti’s penalty.
And it was certainly a case of perseverance, as the hosts were forced to work much harder than the scoreline suggests by a spirited Celta team who frustrated the hosts until their quality finally shone through with a collection of brilliant goals.
Messi’s wondrous free-kick was a rare effort on target for the hosts during an opening period which later saw Guidetti level from the spot. And although Suarez restored the advantage soon after the break, Celta were always menacing and the points never looked safe until Suarez netted his second of the night inside the final 15 minutes.
But the game will be most remembered for the fourth and an astonishing show of impudence which is sure to be long discussed. Messi won a penalty and took it, but instead of shooting he rolled a short square pass for the onrushing Suarez to slide home, a la Johan Cruyff.
Then the scoring was completed by Rakitic and Neymar as Barca and their jubiliant fans finished the evening in high spirits – but it hadn’t always been that easy.
Celta played with an aggressive man-marking defensive scheme which immediately caused problems for Barca’s attacking stars, and the visitors created the first real chance when Pablo Hernandez dragged a snapshot wide.
Messi curled a free-kick just wide and Neymar forced a good reflex save from Sergio Alvarez, but Celta continued to threaten and needed a save from Claudio Bravo to deny Carles Planas’ stretching effort.
Then came the opener as Suarez was fouled 25 yards from goal and Messi superbly arrowed a vicious strike into the top-right corner, leaving Alvarez grasping at air.
Any thoughts that Barca would proceed to win easily were dispelled when Celta levelled as Guidetti outmuscled Jordi Alba and was brought down by the left back. Referee Alejandro Hernandez pointed to the spot and the Swede buried his spot-kick into the left corner.
The second half began more promisingly as Neymar escaped superbly down the left and pulled it back for Suarez, whose sidefooted strike struck the right upright.
Barca were exerting sustained pressure for the first time and Alvarez did well to repel a fierce shot from Andres Iniesta before the lead was regained, with Messi conjuring a magical pass over the Celta defence into the path of Suarez who finished smartly on the half-volley.
Guidetti was always a handful and Celta nearly levelled again when he teed up Daniel Wass for a strike which flew over the top. But Barca secured the points thanks to another piece of Messi brilliance, with the Argentine finding Neymar who classily rounded Alvarez and attempted a narrow-angled shot which was probably going in anyway until Suarez made sure from point-blank range.
Then came the penalty routine for Suarez’s treble, before the Uruguayan turned provider for two more fine goals as Rakitic and Neymar both ran onto passes from Suarez to chip the stranded Alvarez.
