Lewandowski at the double as Barca cruise to win over Elche
Relentless striker Robert Lewandowski pounced twice as Barcelona hammered 10-man Elche 3-0 to move a point clear at the top of La Liga on Saturday.
The Polish forward continued his sensational form since joining from Bayern Munich this summer, with a brace taking him to 11 goals in eight appearances across all competitions.
With Real Madrid, who boast a 100 percent record ater five games, visiting Atletico Madrid in the Sunday night capital derby clash, this was a chance for Barcelona to provisionally depose their rivals for the first time this season, and they took it.
“We’ll sleep as leaders for the first time in two years,” said Barca coach Xavi Hernandez. “We’ve done our homework and got the three points. We’re on a good path.”
Xavi rotated in midfield ater the Champions League defeat by Bayern Munich on Tuesday, with Frenkie de Jong and Franck Kessie stepping in, while Memphis Depay was handed a rare start in atack.
Lewandowski continued his insatiable run in front of goal by scoring twice while Depay also got on the scoresheet as the Catalans registered a comfortable win over 10-man Elche
Elche, botom of the table, made the job significantly easier for the hosts when Gonzalo Verdu hauled down Lewandowski as he burst through on goal ater 14 minutes and was switly dismissed. Lewandowski, top of the division’s scoring charts with eight goals, had been uncharacteristically profligate against his former club, but he did not extend that generosity to the visitors at Camp Nou.
Barcelonarackedupthechancesandinevitably Lewandowski broke the deadlock ater 34 minutes.
Pedri set Alejanrdo Balde in down the let and the young defender cut a ball across the six-yard box for the veteran striker to simply cushion into the net.
“We knew he would score goals and make the difference, but the personal side of him has surprised me,” said Xavi.
“He has a lot of humility, commitment, hunger. He’s very hard working.”
Memphis doubled the lead with a sharp individual turn and powerful strike which flew past Edgar Badia, and Pedri added a third shortly before half-time but it was disallowed for offside.
Barcelona only had to wait three second half minutes for it, with Lewandowski pouncing on a loose ball in the box and finishing clinically to put the game far beyond Elche’s reach.
Ater Cadiz’s late win over Real Valladolid on Friday night, Francisco Rodriguez’s side were let botom of La Liga on one point, and never looked like changing it against Xavi’s sparkling Barca.
Badia denied Lewandowski his hat-trick with a fine save and the striker fired fractionally over the bar before being replaced by Ferran Torres, to an ovation from home supporters already under his spell.
Long ater Lewandowski had been replaced, his name continued to ring around the stadium. In the forward, Barcelona finally have a player to replace Lionel Messi’s goal contributions and help them compete for the title again, which they last won in 2019.
Lewandowski’s arrival and the club’s summer signings spree have given supporters a reason to watch again, as the 85,000 strong crowd testified to, compared to last season’s languishing atendances.
“The excitement of the fans is palpable, in the stadium, in the streets, you have to maintain this hope and belief,” added Xavi.
“The people are connected, Barcelona’s support is more alive than ever.”
A goal in stoppage time by 37-year-old Alvaro Negredo gave Cadiz a much-needed 1-0 win at Valladolid.
It was Cadiz’s first goal of the season and their first victory ater they lost their first five games by a combined score of 0-14.
Negredo broke his team’s scoring drought when he used his let foot to score from a pass by Joseba Zaldua. Both Negredo and Zaldua went on for Sergio Gonzalez’s side in the 72nd minute.
The goal by the veteran striker, who has played at several clubs including Manchester City and Sevilla, helped lit Cadiz out of last place.
The loss let Valladolid in 18th place, right in front of Cadiz in the relegation zone.