Ousmane Dembele and Lionel Messi were on target as Barcelona maintained their grip on top spot in La Liga with a 2-0 home win over Celta Vigo.
It was a game of two halves with Barca excellent in the opening period but far less fluent after the break, and Celta were never entirely out of the game but just lacked a cutting edge.
So which players shone, and who struggled at the Camp Nou?
BARCELONA 4-3-3
Ter Stegen 7. Made a decent low stop from Gomez and a remarkable goalline smother after a scrambled corner.
Semedo 7. Bright and progressive down the right flank, especially when he nearly teed up Messi with a great run and cross.
Pique 8. Led the defensive line very well, showing sharp anticipation and always acting decisively to keep Celta contained.
Lenglet 7. Generally coped well with the physical threat of Gomez but was once barged aside to concede a chance.
Alba 8. Almost unstoppable in the first half, including key passes for the first two goals, and carried out his defensive work well.
Vidal 6. Linked well with Semedo and worked hard off the ball, but sometimes wayward distribution and was taken off.
Busquets 6. Smooth passing and sharp reading of the game in the opening period, but he tired and was eventually replaced.
Rakitic 6. Influential and active in the first half, but lost his way after the break and couldn’t prevent Celta’s increased authority.
Messi 7. Had a shot saved for Dembele to net the opener and finished the second himself. Not his best game but still decisive.
Suarez 6. Missed a sitter after an hour, dragging his shot wide, and cut a frustrated figure but never stopped working.
Dembele 7. Slashed home the opener after Messi’s shot was saved and very good before the break, but faded and was replaced.
Dembele 😤#BarcaCelta pic.twitter.com/STR9Fr70zr
— MSN47 #Infinit8Iniesta (@MSN475) December 22, 2018
SUBSTITUTES
Arthur 6. Entered the fray for Vidal after an hour but came on at a difficult time and couldn’t change the game’s pattern.
Coutinho 5. Came on for Dembele for the final 25 minutes to provide more control in midfield, but struggled to make an impact.
Alena N/A. Replaced Busquets late on and had insufficient time to make a significant contribution.
CELTA VIGO 4-4-2
Blanco 5. Probably should have done better with the first goal and looked hesitant throughout. Far from convincing.
Mallo 5. Visiting skipper struggled against Dembele and Alba’s pace, and blazed wide one of his team’s best openings.
Araujo 7. Made a goalline clearance to deny Alba and stuck to his task doggedly throughout, looking the strongest of Celta’s defence.
Costas 6. Got dragged horribly out of position for Messi’s first goal, but did well to contain Suarez on the whole.
Mazan 5. A rare outing for the Slovakian left-back, and there might not be many more after he struggled to offer much.
Mendez 6. Comfortably Celta’s best player on the ball, but did too little defensively. Curled a 20-yard shot narrowly wide.
An injured Iago Aspas
Okay 4. Occasionally ponderous in possession and often overrun in midfield, it was no surprise when he was replaced at half-time.
Jozabed 6. Tidy on the ball but was too easily overrun in the opening period and didn’t offer enough penetration.
Boufal 5. Made a dangerous early run and shot, but was more style than substance on the left wing and was eventually replaced.
Aspas 5. Floated in and out of the game before being forced off through injury early in the second half. Frustrating evening.
Gomez 6. Came close with a low strike midway through the first half but struggled to make a consistent impact up front.
SUBSTITUTES
Lobotka 6. Replaced Okay in midfield at half-time, and offered more dynamism and tenacity in front of the back four.
Beltran 6. Came on for Aspas to play in a more advanced position than usual. Tried to link midfield and attack with little success.
Sisto 6. Added some zest and directness to Celta’s attack for the last 15 minutes, but couldn’t deliver final product.
