FC Barcelona beat Villarreal 5-1 at the Estadio de la Ceramica on Sunday in the 6th round of the Spanish League and maintains the lead with 18 points, 4 ahead of Real Madrid (2nd), although they have lost goalkeeper Ter Stegen due to injury.
After the defeat of the Blaugrana in the Champions League against Monaco last Thursday, Hansi Flick’s men cleared up any doubts with a double from the ‘Pichichi’ of the League, the Polish Robert Lewandowski (20.35), who missed a penalty, a goal from Pablo Torre (58) and another double from Raphinha (75 and 83). The goal for Villarreal, who had not known defeat in the League until this Sunday, was scored by the Spanish international Ayoze Perez (38).
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Barcelona, with a great performance from their young star Lamine Yamal, is on a perfect run in La Liga, where they have won 22 games in which they have scored 22 goals. Their ranks include the competition’s top scorer, Lewandowski, with six goals, and also the second-highest scorer, Raphinha, who has five goals to his name.
The bad news for Barcelona is the injury to their goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen who, showing obvious pain, had to be taken off on a stretcher just before half-time due to an injury to his right knee.
“It could be a serious injury when he lay down on the pitch… you could see it live,” said Barcelona coach Hansi Flick.
The match was very intense and dynamic, with chances for both sides, goals disallowed for offside, and a penalty missed by Robert Lewandowski, but in the end, the Blaugrana took the three points.
Barcelona remains the leader
The match started with more dangerous chances for Villarreal, including a goal by Jeremy Pino disallowed for offside in the 7th minute.
Another of the highlights of the first half was a left-footed shot from the right by Lamine Yamal that crashed into the right post of the home team’s goalkeeper, Diego Conde.
The score was opened for the Catalans by the Pole Robert Lewandowski who took advantage of a precise pass from Pablo Torre that allowed him to define with the first touch (20).
The Pole also scored the second of the match (35) and the sixth of his account, with a bicycle kick in the six-yard box.
“It is very important for us to score five goals away from home and to be able to take the three points. In the end, it doesn’t matter how as long as we win,” said Lewandowski.
With the score at 2-0, Villarreal did not give up and just two minutes later (38) Ayoze Pérez scored, who was left alone in front of Marc-Andre Ter Stegen after a pass from the Ivory Coast player Nicolas Pepe.
Pepe had a one-on-one with Ter Stegen in the final stretch of the first half, which the Barca goalkeeper resolved in his favor.
All this before the German goalkeeper, in a fortuitous play, fell to the ground with obvious signs of pain in his right knee on the brink of half-time, after blocking a ball in the air. Ter Stegen had to be taken off on a stretcher and replaced by Inaki Pena.
Villarreal came out with a lot of intensity in the second half, but Barca player Pablo Torre scored the third (58) after a shot that hit a local player.
With the score at 3-1, Lewandowski missed a penalty against Lamine Yamal. However, Rafhinha’s double at the end (75 and 83) sealed a match that put an end to any possible Champions League ghosts and allowed the Blaugrana to maintain their lead with a four-point cushion.
Barcelona’s next match is at home on Wednesday 25th against Getafe.
Villarreal, fifth in the table with 11 points, will face Espanyol in Barcelona on Thursday 26th.
