Polish striker Robert Lewandowski scored both goals for defending champion Barcelona and led it to a difficult victory over its guest Alaves 2-1 in the 13th round of the Spanish Football League on Sunday.
Lewandowski, with his goals in the 53rd and 77th minutes – in response to the visitors’ lead goal through his young striker Samo Omordion (19 years old) just 18 seconds after the starting whistle – broke his goal drought, which had continued since last September 23, when he also scored two goals in the victory over Celta. Vigo 3-2 in the sixth round.
Barcelona raised its score to 30 points, moving away from third place behind its chaser, Atletico Madrid, fourth with 25 points, who will play later against Villarreal.
Barcelona is 4 points behind Girona, the surprise leader this season, and 2 points behind its arch-rival Real Madrid, who is in second place.
Barcelona returned to winning ways after losing in the Champions League to Shakhtar Donetsk 0-1 in the fourth round, and before that in the Spanish Clasico against Real Madrid 1-2 in the 11th round, including a difficult victory over Real Sociedad 1-0 in the last round.
Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez made 6 changes compared to the Donetsk match, most notably keeping Gavi, Ferran Torres and Brazilian Rafinha on the bench, and inserting Pedri, Fermin Lopez, Al-Amin Jamal and Portuguese striker Joao Felix.
⚽️🔥 A strong start for Alaves.. 18 seconds were enough to score against Barcelona#La Liga | #Barcelona_Alaves #LaLiga pic.twitter.com/06mCRsIlpt
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) November 12, 2023
No sooner had the referee blown the starting whistle than the Catalan club conceded at home after only 18 seconds, after the ball was intercepted by German Ilkay Gundogan and reached Javier Lopez, who passed it to Okorodion inside the area. He followed it up with a shot that passed between the feet of German goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Barcelona equalized at the beginning of the second half after a joint play between Al-Amin Jamal and Frenchman Jules Kounde on the right side, and the latter passed a cross towards the penalty mark, which Lewandowski headed into the net (53).
⚽️🔥 Lewandowski equalizes for Barcelona with a perfect header#La Liga | #Barcelona_Alaves #LaLiga pic.twitter.com/uFGr0rAtxR
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) November 12, 2023
The defending champion snatched the three points after a mistake by Moroccan defender Abdelkebir Abkar on substitute Torres, and the referee awarded a penalty kick executed by Lewandowski, strong in the middle of the goal, deceiving goalkeeper Antonio Severa, who dived to the left (77).
⚽️🔥 Lewandowski from a penalty kick gives Barcelona the lead goal#La Liga | #Barcelona_Alaves #LaLiga pic.twitter.com/NTmv2XwSxK
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) November 12, 2023
