Robert Lewandowski converts extra-time penalty to give Barcelona win against Celta

Xavi Hernandez has been under immense pressure after announcing recently he will step down as Barcelona coach after the season. Poland striker Robert Lewandowski was the saviour for the Catalans. He converted a penalty kick in extra time after missing his first attempt for Barcelona to win against Celta Vigo 2-1 on Saturday. Boost some confidence in the club ahead of a Champions League playoff.

It was 1-1 till 90 minutes. A foul was made by Celta at 90+7″ minutes and Barcelona got a lifeline. The penalty taker was none other than Lewandowski, but it was brilliantly saved by the Celta de Vigo goalkeeper Vicente Guaita, but the veteran Poland striker received a chance to take the penalty again because of a goalkeeping error. The video referee confirmed that Celta goalkeeper Guaita moved off the goal line before the shot was taken by Lewandowski. The 35-year-old veteran converts the penalty into goal in the eighth minute of added time, to give Barcelona the victory. Barcelona home drew against Granada by 3-3 in the previous round, when it was mocked by their home fans.

Poland striker Lewandowski explained the controversial penalty-taking decision

“I don’t know what happened in the first penalty, but the goalkeeper was off the line too fast and I had the chance to score as usual in the second penalty,” Lewandowski said. “It was very important for us to get these three points, and now we can start focusing on the Champions League,” he added.
Barcelona’s next match against Italian giant Napoli on Wednesday in the first leg of the Champions League’s round of 16. The five-time European champion Barcelona is back in the Champions League for knockout rounds after two back-to-back eliminations in the group stage.

“It was an agonizing win, but it was well deserved,” Barcelona head coach Xavi said. Xavi Hernandez has been under enormous pressure after announcing recently, that he will step down as Barcelona coach after the season. The Catalans have won 10 of 12 points after he made the announcement.

Spanish league table topper Real Madrid is seven points in front of Barcelona, which can be a 10-point gap on Sunday when it visits Rayo Vallecano. Girona is currently second in the points table with 56 points, and Barcelona is two points behind them. Girona will visit Athletic Bilbao on Monday. Barcelona is third in the point table with 54 points and has a three-point gap on fourth-placed Atletico Madrid with 51 points. They thrashed Las Palmas by 5-0 in the last match.