It’s rare indeed that Barcelona suffer defeat, but rarer still that they are devastated quite as they were by Celta Vigo on Tuesday evening.
Barca lost only four matches in the league in the entirety of last season, and were previously imperious heading into this clash, having won all four of their opening four matches.
However, heaving conceded five goals in those matches, the Catalan heavyweights have at least shown some glimpses of fragility.
Their failings were exposed on Tuesday against Celta, who had started the season with three wins and one draw in their opening four matches.
The home side opened the scoring on 26 minutes through Nolito, a Barca transfer target during the summer.
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Liverpool flop Iago Aspas doubled the lead on 30 minutes before giving Celta a 3-0 advantage before the hour mark.
Neymar pulled one back for the European champions on 80 minutes, giving Luis Enrique’s side feint hope of a comeback, but former Man City youth star John Guidetti completed the rout on 83 minutes.
As pointed out by @SkySportsStatto, the defeat is Barca’s biggest in the Spanish top flight since Frank Rijkaard oversaw a 4-1 loss to Real Madrid in May 2008!
Barcelona’s biggest defeat in La Liga since Frank Rijkaard’s team lost 4-1 at Real Madrid, May 2008 pic.twitter.com/EVobdTv5MG
— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) September 23, 2015