Robert Lewandowski’s Hat-Trick Leads Barcelona to 3-0 Victory Over Alaves, Extends La Liga Lead
Robert Lewandowski’s incredible 26-minute hat-trick propelled La Liga leaders Barcelona to a three-point advantage over rival Real Madrid with a dominant 3-0 victory over Alaves on Sunday.
Lewandowski, who has 10 goals in just nine games this season, maintained his lead in La Liga with this victory at the Mendizorroza Stadium.
With a commanding 3-0 victory at Alaves on Sunday, Robert Lewandowski’s 26-minute hat-trick helped Barcelona take the lead in La Liga, three points ahead of Real Madrid. Atletico Madrid’s attempt to recover from a crushing Champions League loss was unsuccessful as Luka Sucic’s incredible late goal helped Real Sociedad salvage a 1-1 draw. With a treble in the first half, Lewandowski extended his lead as the division’s leading goalscorer to ten goals for the season in just nine league games.
Champions Madrid defeated Villarreal on Saturday to draw level with Barcelona, but the Catalans maintained their excellent start to the season under new manager Hansi Flick by easily winning at Mendizorroza Stadium in Alaves.
Lewandowski told DAZN, “It’s easier for me to score goals because I get a lot of good passes.”
“We wanted to attack and score goals today, and we performed well right from the start of the first half.
“If you score three goals in the first half then in the second you can play with everything under control.”
Barca took charge right away and won their eighth La Liga game in nine attempts. This season’s standout players for Barcelona were Lewandowski and Raphinha, the winger, in a game they generally controlled.
After having a goal disallowed for offside, the Brazil international invitingly set up Lewandowski for the opener with a free kick, which the striker headed home. For Barcelona’s second goal, Raphinha raced down the left wing and crossed for the seasoned Polish forward to score.
Lewandowski picked up Eric Garcia’s pass and finished clinically to complete his hat-trick over Sivera. The 36-year-old striker has 12 goals in 11 appearances in all competitions and appears to be much sharper than he was the previous season.
“I think Lewandowski is the best player when he’s in front of the goal,” Flick said to reporters.
“Scoring so many goals in such a short amount of time is incredible… I’m quite pleased with him, and as you can see, he fits perfectly right now.
“I’m happy for Lewy but also the other team-mates are really supporting him very (well).”
Alaves fought hard in the second half and had goals disallowed for offside from Toni Martinez and Santiago Mourino, but Barca held firm.
Atletico Denied
Diego Simeone’s Atletico seized the lead against Real Sociedad in the first minute of their Wednesday 4–0 thrashing at the hands of Benfica. After Antoine Griezmann’s deft backheel found him, former Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez scored with a powerful shot.
The home team earned a point in the 84th minute when Sucic looped a long-range effort past Jan Oblak, despite the Rojiblancos’ valiant defensive efforts to maintain their lead. Real Sociedad is in 15th place, while Atletico’s point moved them level with Villarreal in third place. However, they are seven points behind leaders Barcelona.
“We scored the goal, the team worked well defensively, we didn’t allow a team that plays well (to create) much danger,” Simeone stated to DAZN.
“Look at their goal, a great strike, and that’s about it, I think a draw was fair.”
Girona grabbed a late 2-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao, while Sevilla defeated Real Betis 1-0 in a derby match.
With a penalty kick by Dodi Lukebakio, Sevilla moved up to 12th place, level on points with neighboring team Betis. In the 50th minute, the winger scored from the spot after Diego Llorente, incensed by the call, had handballed.
Llorente declared that the referee had stated that the defender’s arm was raised. “I just ask for respect, we work like mad every week and there are referees who lie to our faces,” Llorente remarked.
Jesus Navas, 38, a seasoned Sevilla winger, participated in his 28th and final Sevilla derby, making him the player with the most appearances in the match—one more than the legendary Joaquin of Betis.
In a thrilling match earlier, Girona defeated Athletic Bilbao in the sixth spot with a late victory.
After a challenging start to the season, last season’s surprise package, who are now in 11th place, managed to grab three points after Cristhian Stuani converted a late penalty.
Paulo Gazzaniga, the Girona goalkeeper, turned away two penalties, first stopping Ander Herrera and then Alex Berenguer.
