Robert Lewandowski scored twice as Barcelona cruised to a 4-1 victory over Girona on Sunday, moving three points clear at the top of La Liga.
The win came after second-placed Real Madrid had leveled on points with Barcelona on Saturday following their victory over Leganes. Barcelona responded emphatically at the Olympic Stadium to restore their advantage.
Lewandowski’s brace helped him stay three goals ahead of Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé in the race for Spain’s golden boot, with the Polish striker now on 25 goals for the season.
The match saw Barcelona dominate, although they were made to work for their win. Girona, who defeated Barcelona twice last season, took the lead just before halftime after a deflected own goal by Ladislav Krejci. However, Arnaut Danjuma quickly equalized for Girona early in the second half, only for Lewandowski to put Barcelona back in front shortly after.
Ferran Torres sealed the victory late on, completing the 4-1 scoreline.
Despite being below their best in the first half, Barcelona’s quality eventually shone through. Lewandowski, speaking to DAZN, highlighted the team’s patience and strong game plan, saying, “If we play with that plan, we can always score a lot of goals and win the game.”
The 36-year-old striker also addressed concerns about his age, stating, “I feel very good physically, and looking at the stats, there’s no difference now compared to a few years ago. I want to keep playing at the top level for more seasons.”
While coach Hansi Flick rotated his squad with the upcoming Copa del Rey semi-final against Atletico Madrid in mind, Barcelona controlled possession throughout, though they lacked a cutting edge in the first half. Girona goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga made crucial saves to keep them at bay, including denying Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal.
Barcelona were awarded a free-kick after Fermin Lopez was brought down by Yaser Asprilla, but VAR overturned the decision after a review revealed the contact occurred inside the box. The referee ultimately judged Lopez to have fouled Asprilla, much to Barcelona’s frustration.
– Breakthrough –
In the final stages of the first half, Barcelona took the lead after a Yamal free-kick was deflected into the net by Krejci. Girona responded well, with Danjuma equalizing after being played through by Daley Blind.
However, Barcelona quickly regained the lead. Lewandowski added his 24th goal of the season with a precise flick after a cross from Lopez. He then secured his brace and the win, finishing from close range after a well-timed pass from substitute Frenkie de Jong.
Torres added a fourth goal late in the match after being found by Gerard Martin, with Yamal nearly adding a fifth as his strike hit the crossbar.
This victory marks Barcelona’s 20th game scoring four or more goals this season, further solidifying their dominance in La Liga. “In the first half, we had the game under control but lacked the final ball,” Lewandowski said. “In the second half, we played more attacking football, created more chances, and scored goals – that’s the most important thing.”
With their eyes on a potential treble, Barcelona continues to impress as they chase both domestic and European glory.
AFP
