Lewandowski Hat-Trick Keeps Barcelona in Title Race After Thriller in Vigo

Robert Lewandowski rolled back the years with a masterful hat-trick as Barcelona edged past Celta Vigo 4-2 to move within three points of La Liga leaders Real Madrid.

The Polish veteran opened the scoring from the spot after Marcos Alonso’s handball, but Celta equalized within seconds through Sergio Carreira, capitalizing on a rapid counter just after Marcus Rashford saw a golden chance saved.

Rashford soon made amends, setting up Lewandowski for a crisp volley to restore Barça’s lead. Yet the hosts struck back again as Borja Iglesias curled in a stunning equalizer from the edge of the area.

Teen sensation Lamine Yamal then restored order before half-time, finishing at the far post after another Rashford cross took a deflection. Lewandowski completed his treble in the 73rd minute, glancing in Rashford’s corner for his third of the night and his third hat-trick in La Liga.

The 37-year-old now boasts 19 hat-tricks across Europe’s top leagues — 16 in Germany with Bayern Munich and Dortmund, and three in Spain with Barça.

A late red card for Frenkie de Jong left Barcelona finishing with ten men, but the Catalans held firm to capitalize on Real Madrid’s earlier stumble — a goalless draw against Rayo Vallecano.

Lewandowski’s performance was a reminder of his enduring class, reigniting Barcelona’s pursuit of back-to-back league glory as the title race tightens heading into the winter stretch.

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