Lewandowski’s Brace Saves Barca, Atletico Defeat Villarreal
Barcelona FC
Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski ended his goal drought with a spectacular brace in a 2-1 win over Alaves, rescuing the Spanish champions in La Liga on Sunday. The victory keeps Barcelona within touching distance of Girona and Real Madrid, who are leading the table.
However, Barcelona’s performance has been under scrutiny recently, with heavy media criticism leading to nervousness among the players, especially the younger ones. Manager Xavi acknowledged the tension within the team, attributing it to the external noise generated around the club.
The match didn’t start well for Barcelona, as Alaves scored in the first minute with an Ilkay Gundogan mistake allowing the opposition to take the lead. Barcelona’s defense was in disarray, and Omorodion easily bypassed the backline to slot the ball past Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Despite the setbacks, Lewandowski’s second-half heroics saw Barcelona clinch the win. His brilliant header and penalty secured the three points for the team, alleviating the pressure on the struggling Barcelona side.
In other La Liga matches, Atletico Madrid came from behind to beat Villarreal 3-1, with Antoine Griezmann scoring his 300th career goal. Atletico’s victory keeps them in contention for the top spots in the league.
Meanwhile, the Seville derby saw a dramatic 1-1 draw between Sevilla and Real Betis, with Ivan Rakitic rescuing his team with a superb strike from outside the area. The result leaves Real Betis in mid-table and gives Sevilla a much-needed point after a dismal run of form in La Liga.
Overall, the recent La Liga matches showcased thrilling performances and dramatic comebacks, setting the stage for an exciting season ahead.
Barcelona forward Robert Lewandowski broke his goal drought with two goals to secure a 2-1 victory for the Spanish champions over Alaves in La Liga on Sunday. In other matches, Atletico Madrid came from behind to defeat Villarreal 3-1, and Sevilla drew with Real Betis 1-1 in a captivating Seville derby.
Samu Omorodion scored for Alaves in the first minute against Barcelona, but Lewandowski’s two goals in the second half secured the victory for the hosts. The win keeps Barcelona in contention for the top spot in the league, with Girona and Real Madrid leading after securing wins on Saturday.
Lewandowski, who ended his goal drought after six matches, emphasized the importance of the victory for Barcelona. Meanwhile, Xavi attributed the team’s recent struggles to media scrutiny, especially aimed at younger players.
The match saw a fast start, with Alaves taking the lead within seconds. Xavi expressed his disappointment in his team’s defensive mistakes, stating that such errors are unacceptable.
Atletico Madrid also secured a victory, with Antoine Griezmann’s stellar performance helping the team overcome an early deficit to beat Villarreal. Coach Diego Simeone celebrated a victory at the Metropolitano Stadium and praised Griezmann’s milestone 300th career goal.
Sevilla and Real Betis drew 1-1, with Ivan Rakitic rescuing a point for Sevilla with a stunning goal from outside the area, while Ayoze Perez put Betis in the lead.
Overall, the weekend’s matches saw Barcelona, Atletico, and Sevilla all earn important results as the La Liga season continues.