Polish national striker Robert Lewandowski led his Barcelona side to shake off the dust of El Clasico’s defeat and recapture the winning streak with a brace in a 3-0 win over Villarreal on Thursday, following the end of the 10th stage of the Spanish Football Championship.
Lewandowski scored his brace in the 31st and 35th minutes, bringing his score to 11 goals, topping the scorer list, and Ansu Fati added the third (38).
It is Barcelona’s first victory after a disappointing draw against Inter, host (3-3) in the fourth round of the Champions League group stage, and a serious defeat against Real Madrid, host and archrival, defending champion in the Clasico (1-3), and his eighth in the league. .
Barcelona consolidated their position in second place, bringing the difference between themselves and the real club to three points, before hosting Athletic Bilbao in the eleventh stage on Sunday, and their decisive trip to Munich to face Bayern next Wednesday in the fifth round of the prestigious continental competition.
Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez made five changes to the fallen squad against Real Madrid, pushing Marcos Alonso, Ansu Fati, Ferran Torres, Gavi and veteran Jordi Alba at the expense of Eric Garcia, Brazilian Rafinha, Frenchman Osman Dembele, captain Sergio Busquets and Alejandro Baldi.
Villarreal Neda remained in front of the Catalan club’s attacking tide for 30 minutes before collapsing and conceding three goals in seven minutes.
Lewandowski was able to open the scoring when he received a cross from Alba inside the area and manipulated two defenders with a wonderful touch with the heel of his right before creeping into goal with the same foot (31).
Lewandowski added the second goal when he received a ball from Gavi, then manipulated one of the defenders and hit him with his right hand from outside the box in the far left corner of Argentine goalkeeper Jerónimo Royi (35).
Fati reinforced the Catalan club’s progress after a splendid individual effort by Ferran Torres inside the area and a crawling pass in front of his colleague’s goal, then followed him with his left and right, hitting the left post and bouncing off of him to follow him with the heel of the left inside the empty goal (39).
Barcelona continued their lead in the second half without being able to consolidate, despite the entry of Dembele and Rafinha.
