Barcelona player ratings v Celta Vigo: Aubameyang 9, Dembele 8, Araujo 7, Torres 6

Barca beat Celta to take big step towards claiming second in La Liga but match overshadowed by nasty injury to Uruguayan defender

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  BARCELONA PLAYER RATINGS: Marc-Andre Ter Stegen – 8. Busy night as Celta had 13 shots to Barca’s 10. Beaten only once though – by Iago Aspas on 50, but that was from a defensive mix-up. World class save in the first half. EPA

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  Dani Alves – 7. “We tried to change the system, starting with a line of three defenders, with Alba and Alves in support,” said Xavi as he explained what he wanted Alves et al to do. “It's true that we hadn't worked a lot on it in training, but the team was not at all comfortable." With so many players missing, it’ll be even more improvised in the next game. Reuters

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  Ronald Araujo – 7. A hero of the Camp Nou crowd, he suffered concussion after a clash of heads with Gavi and was taken to hospital in the ambulance which came on the pitch. Manager Xavi said: “Araujo is conscious, out of danger. Doctor tells us not to worry.” The fans in the stadium were very worried. EPA

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  Eric Garcia – 7. Booked and will miss the weekend game at Getafe. There’s a trend here. Needs to step up next season after settling this. Getty

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  Jordi Alba – 7. Played more as a midfielder in an odd formation that didn’t convince. Booked and will miss the weekend game at Getafe. Getty

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  Frenkie De Jong – 6. Barca were very different without Sergio Busquets, played a 3-3-1-3 and had only 47 per cent of possession in the first half - yet hit Celta twice on the break to score. Booked and will miss the weekend game at Getafe. Looked like he was booked on purpose. Reuters

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  Gavi – 7. Played in a midfield two. Involved in the unfortunate clash of heads which saw Aruajo leave the pitch. It has been a productive year for the youngster. Getty

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  Ferran Torres – 6. His side didn’t play well but got the goals which mattered and Barca are now guaranteed a top three place since they’re now seven clear of Sevilla and eight ahead of Atletico with two games to go. Those teams play each other and have three matches left. AFP

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  Memphis Depay – 8. Put his side ahead on 30 minutes, sweeping in a cross from Ousmane Dembele on the right. Also shot wide in a move which saw Celta defender Murillo sent off. AFP

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  Ousmane Dembele – 8. Two assists, the first a stunner after beating three players, for Barca’s first and third goals. The most exciting player on the pitch when he had the ball, running at and beating players. Assist king. A fit and firing Dembele will be vital for the Catalans next season. EPA

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  Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 9. Two goals, the first four minutes before the break which he scrambled in. With 11 goals since February, he’s been a big success since that move from Arsenal and the fans sing his name every game. EPA

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  SUBS: Riqui Puig (Torres 45’) – 6. A solid if unspectacular outing from the 22-year-old midfielder. Reuters

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  Ansu Fati (Depay 64’) – 6. No repeat of his goalscoring heroics from last time out when he found the net 75 seconds after coming off the bench against Real Betis. AP

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  Clement Lenglet (Aruajo 68’) – 6. Replaced the concussed Aruajo and helped Barca see out the victory. EPA

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  Oscar Mingueza (Alves 89’) – N/R. AFP

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  Luuk De Jong (Aubameyang 84’) – NA. On for as the home team saw their final game of an unusual season out at Camp Nou. AFP

Xavi Hernandez said he was pleased with the result but less satisfied with the performance after Barcelona defeated Celta Vigo 3-1 at Camp Nou on Tuesday night, but the match was overshadowed by a nasty head injury to defender Ronald Araujo.

Memphis Depay opened the scoring for Barca on the half-hour mark, before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored twice either side of the interval to hand the hosts a 3-0 lead. Celta captain Iago Aspas pulled one back for the visitors early in the second half but their hopes of a comeback were dashed when Jeison Murillo was sent off in the 58th minute.

Six minutes later, play was stopped when Araujo suffered a worrying head injury and had to be taken away in an ambulance after he and Gavi banged heads challenging for the same ball. The Uruguayan defender stumbled on for a few seconds before dropping to the floor as a concerned Aspas and Eric Garcia called urgently for the medics.

Araujo was lifted into the ambulance on a stretcher, wearing a neck brace. Barcelona confirmed the 23-year-old "suffered a concussion and has been taken to the hospital to undergo further testing".

After the game, Barca coach Xavi said: "The doctor has told us he is conscious. He will spend the night in hospital but he is out of danger.

"The doctor said we shouldn't worry, that he will spend the night in hospital as a precaution, nothing more."

The victory puts Barcelona in pole position to claim second place in La Liga, with the Catalans seven points ahead of Sevilla and eight in front of Atletico Madrid ahead of the match between the two at the Wanda Metropolitano on Sunday.

"We were effective but we didn't play well," said Xavi. "It was simpler against 10 men but we struggled against 11."

Barcelona have two games remaining, starting with a trip to Getafe on Sunday before concluding their campaign at home against Villarreal on May 22.

Reflecting on the performances at the Camp Nou, Andy Mitten has provided his player ratings in the photo gallery above. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.