Mathieu ensures that FC Barcelona remain the Liga BBVA forerunners

A solitary Jérémy Mathieu header was enough to decide the outcome of the meeting between RC Celta and FC Barcelona on matchday 29 of the Liga BBVA. The 0-1 result, which keeps the Catalans top of the table, was a bitter blow to the Galicians, who are eleventh.

The first half was characterised by home team’s eagerness to go in front. Eduardo Berizzo’s men managed to peg back Barcelona through various Nolito and Joaquín Larrivey efforts on goal. The first chance was saved by Claudio Bravo, while the second saw the Argentine forward hit his shot wide right in front of goal. Los azulgranas, who were happy to go into the half time break unscathed in order to change things up, came closet to scoring through Leo Messi, however, he too was unable to break the deadlock.

The second half bore no resemblance to the first. Celta looked heavy legged and it was Luis Enrique’s charges who threatened most in attack. Nonetheless, Barca lacked shooting accuracy and a bit of good fortune. Neither of Messi or Neymar Junior’s goalscoring opportunities amounted to anything, but that situation soon changed with a training ground move from a direct free kick which ended with Jérémy Mathieu heading the ball into the back of the net to put the Catalans at ease. Celta had one more chance on goal before the final whistle was blown. The game finished with Barcelona picking up three valuable points that keep them top of the pile for another week.