New Delhi: Barcelona cruised to a 3-0 win over Alaves, re-establishing their three-point lead at the top of La Liga. Robert Lewandowski stole the show with a first-half hat-trick, as Hansi Flick’s side made a strong return to form after last weekend’s shock loss to Osasuna. The victory came after Real Madrid’s win over Villarreal had momentarily pulled them level on points, but Barcelona responded in style at the Mendizorroza stadium.
From the start, Barca looked dominant. Lewandowski opened the scoring early on, nodding in Raphinha’s expertly delivered cross. The Polish striker added a second soon after, finishing a move that started again with Raphinha’s clever work on the left. Lewandowski completed his hat-trick just before half-time, latching onto Eric Garcia’s pass and beating Antonio Sivera with a composed finish.
Despite some spirited moments from the hosts, including a disallowed goal by Toni Martinez for offside, Barcelona controlled the match comfortably. Alaves had another goal ruled out in the second half, but Barca’s high line and quick transitions kept them in charge. With Lewandowski’s treble leading the way, the Catalans secured their eighth win in nine league games, continuing their impressive start to the season.
At 36, Robert Lewandowski continues to prove why he’s one of the best strikers in the world. His hat-trick against Alaves, which came in just 26 minutes, stretched his tally to 10 goals in nine La Liga games, further solidifying his lead as the league’s top scorer.
Speaking after the game, Lewandowski credited his teammates for the quality of their passing. “The assists made it easy for me,” he said. Flick echoed his praise, calling Lewandowski the “best in front of goal.” It was another clinical display from the veteran forward, who is thriving under Barcelona’s attacking approach.
