Lewandowski hat-trick helps Barca punish Real Madrid slip

Barcelona, Nov. 11: Robert Lewandowski hit a hat-trick to help Barcelona beat Celta Vigo 4-2 on Sunday in La Liga and cut Real Madrid's lead down to three points.

The veteran Polish striker's treble helped Hansi Flick's side capitalise on Los Blancos' 0-0 draw earlier on at Rayo Vallecano.

Teenager Lamine Yamal also scored for Barca in another gripping game produced by the champions' attacking approach, and Marcus Rashford produced two more assists.

Frenkie de Jong was sent off late on for Barca for two yellow cards but by then the champions had secured their victory to move second.

Lewandowski has had a stop-start beginning of the season because of injury and Flick said his hat-trick would boost his confidence.

"After the injury I can see a different Robert Lewandowski, he's positive, he came back very early," Flick told reporters. "For him, for his confidence, it's great to score three goals today."

Lewandowski said the game was "one of the craziest" of the season, but was happy with the result.

"Vigo is always difficult for us but now we have less points (between us) and Real Madrid," Lewandowski told Movistar.

Madrid frustrated

Earlier, Real Madrid were left frustrated in their goalless draw at Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, giving champions Barcelona a chance to close in on them.

Rayo battled strongly in the derby clash and although Real Madrid had the better chances, the hosts also had opportunities to win a scrappy game.

They managed to limit La Liga top scorer Kylian Mbappe's influence, while keeping Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham safely at arm's length as well.

Madrid were hoping to bounce back from their Champions League defeat by Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday but Alonso's team dropped points for only the second time this season in the league.

"I want to keep growing, improving, with positive and constructive self-criticism -- this is Real Madrid, we all know where we are and what we want," coach Xabi Alonso told reporters.

"We're in November, there's a long way to go, we need to be demanding of ourselves (but) also be measured." (AFP)