TNT Sports
Villarreal 1-5 Barcelona: Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha fire braces in thumping win in La Liga
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Published 22/09/2024 at 17:57 GMT+1
Barcelona bounced back from a surprise defeat in the UEFA Champions League to continue their flawless start to La Liga with a 5-1 win at Villarreal. Robert Lewandowski got the visitors going with a first-half brace, while Pablo Torre and another double from Raphinha saw Barca home as convincing winners. They move four points clear of Real Madrid in the table with 18 points from six games.
Robert Lewandowski celebrates
Image credit: Getty Images
Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha both scored twice as Barcelona beat Villarreal 5-1 in a tense affair at Estadio de la Ceramica.
It was not quite as one-sided as the scoreline suggested, with the hosts pulling it back to 2-1 in the first half through Ayoze Perez and seeing two goals disallowed through VAR.
The home side thought they had found an early lead as Yeremy Pino was able to lob the ball over Marc Andre ter Stegen before an offside flag was raised.
It was Robert Lewandowski who opened the scoring inside 20 minutes after a superb pass from Pablo Torre played in the Poland international, who slotted past Diego Conde to secure his fifth goal of the season.
The 36-year-old scored his second 15 minutes later, with an overhead kick finding the back of the net.
The home side were able to cut the deficit moments later when former Arsenal forward Nicolas Pepe beat the offside trap and squared the ball to Ayoze Perez, who found the target.
Villarreal had several chances to level the scores as Pepe came close either side of the break before Torre extended Barca's lead in the 58th minute with a low shot from the outside of the box.
Lewandowski was denied a hat-trick, after VAR awarded Barcelona a penalty when Lamine Yamal was brought down in the box, as his effort from the spot hit the woodwork.
Raphinha added his name to the scoresheet in the 74th minute with a powerful strike taking a deflection on its way to the bottom-left corner, before scoring his second of the game 10 minutes later after a wonderful long ball from Yamal.
Barcelona's win saw the 27-time La Liga champions maintain their unbeaten run and take a four point lead on Real Madrid, while Villarreal slipped to their first defeat of the season.
Talking point - Injury-hit Barca march on
Barca boss Hansi Flick has had little luck in his first season in charge of the Spanish giants despite their unbeaten run.
Ter Stegen landed awkwardly and was stretchered off as Barcelona's injury list continued to grow, with their €60m (£50.3m) signing Dani Olmo ruled out until after the October international break, joining Fermin Lopez, Gavi, Frenkie de Jong, Marc Bernal, Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen on the sidelines.
Despite that, Barcelona have proved unstoppable, scoring an incredible 22 goals and conceding five in their opening six games. And while Barcelona wonderkid Yamal did not get his name on the scoresheet, two assists continued an impressive start to the season.
Player of the match - Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona)
While he was denied a hat-trick by the woodwork, Lewandowski was clinical and could have had several goals to his name, asides from the two he did score. He might be surrounded by a young, exciting team but the 36-year-old continues to impress and be the forward Barcelona have needed.
Player ratings
Barcelona: Ter Stegen 6; Martin 6, Martinez 6, Dominguez 6, Kounde 7; Pedri 7, Eric Garcia 5, Torre 7; Raphinha 8, Lewandowski 8 , Yamal 8 Subs: Cubarsi 6, Pena 7, Casado 6, Victor 7, Fort 6
Villarreal: Conde 6; Cardona 6, Bailly 6, Costa 6, Femenia 6; Baena 6, Parejo 6, Comesana 6, Pino 7; Perez 7, Pepe 7 Subs: Suarez 6, Akomach 5, Barry 6, Gueye 6, Terrats 6
Match Highlights
8' OFFSIDE GOAL FOR VILLARREAL - Another terrific long ball puts Barca in danger as Pino is able to lob the ball over Ter Stegen in goal but Barcelona are lucky as the offside flag is raised.
20' GOAL! VILLARREAL 0 - 1 BARCELONA (Lewandowski) - It's a superb pass from Pablo Torre to play in Lewandowski after some great hold up play from the Poland international. He slots it past Conde and secures his fifth goal of the season.
35' GOAL! VILLARREAL 0 - 2 BARCELONA (LEWANDOWSKI) - He's got his second. Yamal sends in a great ball which Eric Garcia is able to get on the end of, he pushes it into the path of Lewandowski and the 36-year-old manages to find the back of the net with an overhead kick.
38' GOAL! VILLARREAL 1 - 2 BARCELONA (Perez) - Pepe, who has been excellent, is picked out and escapes the offside trap, he squares the ball to Ayoze Perez who gives Villarreal a path back into the clash.
50' PEPE OFFSIDE - Pepe thinks he might have beaten the offside trap and scored the equaliser but he is offside.
58' GOAL! VILLARREAL 1 - 3 BARCELONA (Torre 58') - Pablo Torre hits a low shot from the outside of the box and it is enough to beat Conde and retake a two-goal lead.
65' PENALTY FOR BARCA - Yamal is brought down in the box and the referee waves it away. But VAR stops the game and after going to the screen, a penalty is given.
66' MISSED PENALTY - Lewandowski takes the penalty and it is a low one to the goalkeeper's right and it is the woodwork which denies Barca's striker a hat-trick.
68' DISALLOWED GOAL FOR VILLARREAL! They thought they had scored again but it is VAR that rules out Thierno Barry a goal after some great work.
74' GOAL! VILLARREAL 1 - 4 BARCELONA (Raphinha) - Surely it is over now! Raphinha gets his goal after his powerful strike takes a deflection and finds the bottom left corner.
83' GOAL! VILLARREAL 1 - 5 BARCELONA (Raphinha) - Yamal picks out Raphinha's run with a wonderful long ball and Raphinha makes no mistake scoring his second of the game.
Key Stats
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