IN SPORT.ES
Barcelona suffered just their fourth La Liga loss under Ernesto Valverde as they were beaten 2-0 by Celta Vigo on Saturday.
Valverde made 11 changes to his side with the league title already won. He wanted to keep his regulars fresh for Tuesday's Champions League semifinal second leg at Liverpool, which they go into with a 3-0 lead.
Celta took full advantage of a weakened side, with Maxi Gomez and Iago Aspas' second half goals sealing three precious points for them at the bottom of the table.
It was just Valverde's fourth defeat in 74 league games in charge of the Catalans. Two of those losses (this one and last season at Levante) have come after the title has already been won.
With this season's title won, Valverde took advantage of that fact to make wholesale changes to his team. Marc-Andre her Stegen, Gerard Pique, Sergi Roberto, Jordi Alba, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi were all left in Barcelona. Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic were suspended.
In their place came those at the end of their Barca careers and those at the beginning. There were starts for Thomas Vermaelen and Kevin Prince Boateng, Moussa Wague and Riqui Puig.
There were few chances in the first half, with the main talking point being Ousmane Dembele's injury. The Frenchman was forced off in the first few minutes with a hamstring problem.
Celta though they'd took the lead after the break when Nestor Araujo scored from close range but VAR ruled he was in an offside position,.
Barça then lost Jean Clair Todibo to injury and before they could make the substitute they were behind. Gomez swept home a deep cross to edge the hosts in front.
Valverde's team never really looked like coming back into the game and Celta sealed the points late on when Aspas scored from the penalty spot after Wague's handball.