La Liga: fiery red Barcelona defeated Sevilla 5-1 on Sunday to maintain a three-point lead over Real Madrid at the top of La Liga ahead of the Clasico the following weekend. Robert Lewandowski and Pablo Torre both scored twice in the victory. On Saturday, Los Blancos defeated Celta Vigo to draw level with Hansi Flick’s team, but Barca quickly reclaimed the lead with a commanding performance in aggressive football. In ten La Liga games, veteran striker Lewandowski scored 12 goals.

His scores came in between Pedri Gonzalez’s shot from the outside of the box, and replacement Torre added the fourth. On his return to the team he spent almost three decades with in a variety of positions, Francisco Garcia Pimienta’s team was soundly defeated despite a late goal by Stanis Idumbo to give Sevilla some hope.

With a crossed free-kick that sailed past Nyland and in at the far post, Torre completed the demolition.

“(It was) very important, given the games ahead, but this was an important game (too) and we got the three points,” Pedri said to Movistar.

“Just before the game the coach said the space was just outside the area and I had the luck (to score).”

Flick began with maybe his best possible lineup despite impending Champions League matches against Bayern Munich and Saturday’s trip to the Santiago Bernabeu.

After an injury, the coach was able to start Gavi, Fermin Lopez, and Dani Olmo on the bench. Gavi hasn’t played since November 2023 due to a knee surgery.

Eric Garcia was uncomfortable during the warm-up, therefore Ansu Fati began for the first time this season, with Raphinha moving into a central offensive midfield position.

Lamine Yamal curled off target early on after a brisk sprint past two Sevilla defenders. Yamal had started the match after recuperating from a slight hamstring ailment that had caused Spain to release him from international duties early.

The referee pointed to the spot when Raphinha, a former Barca junior player, fell down in the area with little touch, giving the Catalans the lead.

Stuttering in his run-up, Lewandowski gave Barca the lead by sending Sevilla goalkeeper Orjan Nyland the wrong way.

With 12 goals in 10 games, or twice as many as any other player, the 36-year-old striker is leading Spain’s scoring rankings and is enjoying a second wind under Flick.

Soon after, Pedri increased Barcelona’s advantage from outside the box after Yamal, who was lively, set him up. The young Spanish player eventually managed to go by Lewandowski, but Nyland made a great save to stop him.

With a twist of his foot, Polish veteran Lewandowski scored his second goal before to halftime, finishing Raphinha’s long drive.

Experiencing Before the half, Sevilla had further bad news as their dynamic winger Chidera Ejuke hobbled out with an injury.

Early in the second half, Raphinha scored a goal, but it was offside. Barcelona was cruising as they slowly broke down the Andalucians.

With the outside of his boot, Yamal unleashed a ridiculous long-range shot that Nyland managed to scrabble away from danger.

A rare Sevilla forray forward saw Dodi Lukebakio score at the opposite end, but his shot had gone wide.

Pablo Torre, a midfielder for Barcelona, scored the fourth goal with a deflection, and with a few minutes left, Gavi came in as a replacement to a thunderous ovation, marking his first appearance after eleven months.

“He’s a great guy, a hard worker, he deserves this moment, you can see the fans love him and we all do,” said Pedri.

Idumbo gave Sevilla a 13th-minute comeback, but Torre’s fortunate free kick at the far post completed Barcelona’s victory.