Alexis Sanchez continued his fine scoring form after netting the decisive goal in Barca’s 2-1 win over Real Madrid at the weekend when he tapped home the opener after just nine minutes.
Celta had their chances to equalise towards the end of the first period, but went two behind at the beginning of the second when Cesc Fabregas’ drive rebounded into his own net off goalkeeper Yoel Rodriguez and Fabregas added a third with a clinical finish soon after.
‘There are games where we have lacked a little punch up front, like against Osasuna when we didn’t take advantage of our chances,’ Fabregas told Canal Plus.
‘This time they have gone in. The important thing is to continue creating chances and play well and the goals will arrive.’ With Barca in the midst of seven games in 22 days, coach Gerardo Martino made five changes from the side that started the match against Madrid on Saturday.
Javier Mascherano, Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Neymar all dropped to the bench, whilst Gerard Pique was left out of the squad due to an ongoing hamstring problem. And Martino was happy with the control displayed by his side in the second-half after a slightly shaky spell towards half-time.
‘I thought we won quite comfortably, we just had one period before half-time where we let Celta get in behind our midfield more easily.
‘We started well and our idea to play Cesc closer to Messi to pressure their defence worked. ‘In the second-half we managed the game far easier because Cesc made it a margin of three goals in a matter of minutes.’
Earlier in the evening Espanyol and Malaga produced a dull 0-0 draw in Cornella el Prat, a result which at least ends Malaga’s run of successive defeats.
Celta had their chances to equalise towards the end of the first period, but went two behind at the beginning of the second when Cesc Fabregas’ drive rebounded into his own net off goalkeeper Yoel Rodriguez and Fabregas added a third with a clinical finish soon after.
‘There are games where we have lacked a little punch up front, like against Osasuna when we didn’t take advantage of our chances,’ Fabregas told Canal Plus.
‘This time they have gone in. The important thing is to continue creating chances and play well and the goals will arrive.’ With Barca in the midst of seven games in 22 days, coach Gerardo Martino made five changes from the side that started the match against Madrid on Saturday.
Javier Mascherano, Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Neymar all dropped to the bench, whilst Gerard Pique was left out of the squad due to an ongoing hamstring problem. And Martino was happy with the control displayed by his side in the second-half after a slightly shaky spell towards half-time.
‘I thought we won quite comfortably, we just had one period before half-time where we let Celta get in behind our midfield more easily.
‘We started well and our idea to play Cesc closer to Messi to pressure their defence worked. ‘In the second-half we managed the game far easier because Cesc made it a margin of three goals in a matter of minutes.’
Earlier in the evening Espanyol and Malaga produced a dull 0-0 draw in Cornella el Prat, a result which at least ends Malaga’s run of successive defeats.