Barça needed it. Net winner of Villarreal (3-0) thanks to a double from Robert Lewandowski (1-0, 31st and 2-0, 35th) and a goal from Ansu Fati (3-0, 38th), the Catalans had made the difference before the break. Too timid, Unai Emery’s team never represented a danger to the Blaugranas’ defense. The latter sign an important victory not to be left behind by Real Madrid when they will play their survival in the Champions League next Wednesday against Bayern Munich.
We haven’t seen a great Barcelona but the Catalans have provided the essentials and have still not conceded a single goal at home in La Liga this season. This success, Xavi’s players owe it in large part to Lewandowski, who is still so clinical when it comes to finishing and who now has eleven goals in the league. The Pole has therefore scored 45.8% of Barça’s goals this season on the national scene. While his team had been purring for thirty minutes, he appeared to decant the situation.
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Ansu Fati had missed the target twice (2nd, 19th), Lewandowski magnified an action initiated by Pedri and relayed by Jordi Alba with a pivot shot following a roulette which put the three defenders who were in the wind in its perimeter (1-0, 31st). The start of seven minutes of madness for the Catalans. The last two winners of the Kopa Trophy, Pedri and Gavi, found themselves at the start of the action leading to Lewandowski’s curling shot beyond the reach of Geronimo Rulli (2-0, 35th).
The yellow submarine definitely sank on a third goal signed Fati which concluded closely following an involuntary one-two with the post (3-0, 38th). The score acquired, Barcelona was content to manage on the return from the locker room, making this second period dull where the flat left foot off target from Raphinha (79th) was the only clear opportunity for Barcelona. Meanwhile, Xavi was spinning in anticipation of upcoming deadlines. Athletic Bilbao will present themselves at the Camp Nou on Sunday ahead of what is probably the most important game of this start to the season for the Catalans against Bayern next Wednesday.
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