 |
| Roque Mesa of Real Valladolid clears the ball away from Robert Lewandowski of Barcelona during the LaLiga Santander match between FC Barcelona and Real Valladolid CF at Camp Nou on August 28, 2022 in Barcelona, Spain. |
Veteran star strikers Robert Lewandowski and Karim
Benzema both hit doubles on Sunday in contrasting victories for Barcelona and
La Liga leaders Real Madrid.
Benzema both hit doubles on Sunday in contrasting victories for Barcelona and
La Liga leaders Real Madrid.
Lewandowski scored twice for the second game in a row as Jules Kounde made his
debut as Barcelona cruised past Valladolid 4-0.
debut as Barcelona cruised past Valladolid 4-0.
In the late game on Sunday, Real Madrid struggled for 88 minutes at Espanyol.
With the scores tied and time running out, Benzema put Real ahead before
sealing a 3-1 victory after 10 eventful added minutes.
With the scores tied and time running out, Benzema put Real ahead before
sealing a 3-1 victory after 10 eventful added minutes.
Real saved their perfect start to the season and climbed back to the top of the
table on nine points after three games, ahead of Real Betis on goal difference.
table on nine points after three games, ahead of Real Betis on goal difference.
Barcelona rose to third, two points further back.
“To have Lewandowski in your team is a blessing,” said Barca coach
Xavi Hernandez.
“He’s an extraordinary player. Spectacular. A natural leader. It’s a
blessing to have him with us, it’s marvellous.
“He’s a model, a born worker. He’s humble, he works for the team, he helps
the coaching staff, he makes the difference.”
At the Camp Nou, Xavi handed Kounde his first start after the club was finally
able to register the France defender they signed from Sevilla last month for a
reported 50 million euros ($49.8 mn).
able to register the France defender they signed from Sevilla last month for a
reported 50 million euros ($49.8 mn).
Lewandowski hit the post with an early header.
Pedri then spotted the run of Raphinha in behind but the Brazilian was thwarted
by goalkeeper Jordi Masip, who was well beaten moments later when Ousmane
Dembele’s venomous shot clipped the crossbar.
by goalkeeper Jordi Masip, who was well beaten moments later when Ousmane
Dembele’s venomous shot clipped the crossbar.
Barca’s pressure told after 24 minutes as Raphinha whipped in a teasing cross
which a gambling Lewandowski stabbed home.
which a gambling Lewandowski stabbed home.
A marauding Dembele tested Masip from range, and then created the second for
Pedri by rolling a perfectly-weighted ball for the midfielder to bury on the
stroke of half time.
Pedri by rolling a perfectly-weighted ball for the midfielder to bury on the
stroke of half time.
Lewandowski all but put the game beyond reach on 64 minutes, running onto a
pass from Dembele and cleverly backheeling past Masip with the help of a
deflection off Joaquin Fernandez.
pass from Dembele and cleverly backheeling past Masip with the help of a
deflection off Joaquin Fernandez.
Valladolid nearly pulled one back but Marc-Andre ter Stegen saved well from
Oscar Plano and Kounde stuck out a leg on the line to keep out the follow-up
effort from Roque Mesa.
Oscar Plano and Kounde stuck out a leg on the line to keep out the follow-up
effort from Roque Mesa.
Barca grabbed a fourth in stoppage time as Roberto volleyed home after
Lewandowski was denied a hat-trick after Masip, a former Barcelona player,
tipped his shot onto the bar.
Lewandowski was denied a hat-trick after Masip, a former Barcelona player,
tipped his shot onto the bar.
In the late game, Vinicius Junior ran on to a sharp diagonal pass in the 12th
minute to slide the ball into the far corner and give Real the lead.
minute to slide the ball into the far corner and give Real the lead.
Espanyol fought back. Joselu levelled after 43 minutes. He burst through and
when Thibaut Courtois saved his first thump at goal and the ball bounced off
Eder Militao, the Espanyol striker beat both Real players to the ball and
scuffed it in.
when Thibaut Courtois saved his first thump at goal and the ball bounced off
Eder Militao, the Espanyol striker beat both Real players to the ball and
scuffed it in.
Both teams had chances in the second half before Benzema, as so often in the
last year, decided the game. After a quiet game, he found space at the far post
with two minutes left, met Rodrygo’s cross and volleyed home from cose range.
last year, decided the game. After a quiet game, he found space at the far post
with two minutes left, met Rodrygo’s cross and volleyed home from cose range.
Deep into frantic added time, Espanyol goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte, charged out
of his box to stop a Real attack received a red card for a foul on Dani
Ceballos.
of his box to stop a Real attack received a red card for a foul on Dani
Ceballos.
Benzema fired home the free kick.
“We were quite slow,” said Real coach Carlo Ancelotti. “We had
difficulty managing the intensity of the match.”
Villarreal dropped their first points of the season in a 0-0 draw at Getafe as
Unai Emery’s side saw the award of a penalty overturned following a VAR review
in the dying stages.
Unai Emery’s side saw the award of a penalty overturned following a VAR review
in the dying stages.
Share this content:
