Valencia. Robert Lewandowski sealed a comeback with a brace as Barcelona won 2-1 at Valencia on Saturday in their debut campaign in La Liga.
The Pole equalised after barely getting his foot out to deflect Lamine Yamal’s diagonal cross in front of goal in the fifth minute of added time before the break. He sealed his double with a penalty in the 49th minute after a foul committed on Raphinha.
Hugo Duro put the orange team ahead with a header from the edge of the six-yard box in the 44th minute, which was added to the scoreboard when it was approved by the video referee.
Moments before Lewandowski’s equaliser, 17-year-old defender Pau Cubarsí made a save on the line from a shot by Duro, after a mistake in the Barça exit.
“It was a very difficult game with a lot of young players… A very difficult ground. Now we have the whole week to prepare for the next one,” said Lewandowski. “The young players played very well today. The most important thing is that we leave with three points.”
Barça begins the era of German coach Hansi Flick with a victory, who arrived during the off-season to replace Xavi Hernández.
Lewandowski now has ten doubles in La Liga, in addition to having scored a hat-trick, which he celebrated last season against Valencia.
With its first three points, Barcelona will be able to return home with peace of mind ahead of the opening match of champions Real Madrid on Sunday when they visit Mallorca, where French star Kylian Mbappé will make his debut in Spain.
Between injury and financial problems, the Blaugranas relied on the debut of midfielder Marc Bernal in the first division at the age of 17. The twenty-year-old Marc Casadó was also in that area, in the absence of Frenkie de Jong and Ilkay Gundogan, while Dani Olmo, their new signing, was not included in the squad because he has not been registered with the league.
Up front, 17-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal was once again the most unbalanced player for Barça, just as he ended last season when he made his debut and a few weeks ago with the Spanish team at the European Championship in Germany, where he celebrated the title and was recognised as the Best Young Player of the tournament.
Leganés adds points on their return
Leganés drew 1-1 in their visit to Osasuna, in their first match after returning to the first division.
Juan Cruz put the team from the Madrid region ahead in the 22nd minute; an own goal by goalkeeper Juan Soriano in the 79th minute gave the hosts the equaliser.
Both Leganés and Osasuna earned their first point of the championship that began last Thursday.
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– 2024-08-18 18:09:13
