Old man Lewa returns with a jaw-dropping hat-trick to kill die-hard Celta

Barcelona reduced their gap to Real Madrid to just three points, after an exciting 4-2 away win against Celta on Sunday night.

Robert Lewandowski returned to the starting XI after over a month in fantastic fashion by scoring a hat-trick (a penalty, a tap-in and a header).

The encounter at the Balaidos is probably one of the craziest matches we've seen since the start of the La Liga season.

Two halves, two completely different games.

We witnessed a remarkable first half, a true five-goal spectacle, as Hansi Flick's men kept getting in front, while Celta were keen to get back into the game and did so twice shortly after conceding the first and second goals.

We saw the opener around the ten-minute mark, and it came from the penalty spot. The ball hit Marcos Alonso's hand, and after a VAR review, Barca were awarded a penalty, which Robert Lewandowski converted to make it 1-0.

However, just 108 seconds later, Celta exploited the Blaugrana's weakest point, as Sergio Carreira beat their high line to put it past Wojciech Szczesny to level the score, 1-1.

Flick's men restored the lead in the later stage of the first half through Lewa again. Marcus Rashford's cross was perfect and the Polish striker proved his class with a routine tap-in inside the six-yard box.

Alas, Lewa's brace didn't count for too much because of Celta's other equaliser of the night. Another Celta's counter-attack, and another ball in the back of Szczesny's net - this time even prettier than the previous.

The visitors left Borja Iglesias unmarked near the edge of the box, and the veteran striker slotted it superbly under the crossbar to tie the game at two, 2-2.

And, believe it or not, it was still not over when it came to goals before the break. Until then, shy Lamine Yamal instinctively reacted following another Rashford's cross from the left, hitting it with his weaker, right, foot for a 3-2 lead.

And then came the second half - a genuine lullaby.

Instead of at least three or more goals, we saw just a single one, although a true gem. Who other than Lewandowski netted to seal the hat-trick. It was a magnificent header as the veteran striker wrapped up the tie, showcasing his incredible set of skills.

LA LIGA - MATCHDAY 12

Friday

Elche - Sociedad 1-1 (0-0)

/Rodriguez 57 - Oyarzabal 89 pen/

Saturday

Girona - Alaves 1-0 (1-0)

/Tsygankov 16/

Sevilla - Osasuna 1-0 (0-0)

/Vargas 51 pen/

Atl. Madrid - Levante 3-1 (1-1)

/De la Fuente 12 (og), Griezmann 61, 80 - Sanchez 21/

Espanyol - Villareal 0-2 (0-1)

/Moreno 43, Moleiro 57/

Sunday

Ath.Bilbao - Oviedo 1-0 (1-0)

/N. Williams 25/

Rayo Vallecano - Real Madrid 0-0

Mallorca - Getafe 1-0 (1-0)

/Muriqi 14/

Valencia - Betis 1-1 (0-0)

/Rioja 82 - Hernandez 74/

Celta - Barcelona 2-4 (2-3)

/Carreira 11, Iglesias 43 - Lewandowski 10 pen,37,73 Yamal 45+4/