Even with an hour remaining in the Mendizorroza match, Lewandowski’s hat-trick effectively clinch the victory.
Barcelona easily defeated Alavés 3-0 on Sunday, bouncing back from their loss to Osasuna the previous week. The three goals came in the opening thirty minutes of play, all of which were scored by the same player, Robert Lewandowski.
With two weeks left before the most recent international break, the victory puts Real Madrid back up to a 3-point advantage at the top of the table.
Lewandowski 1–2–3
On this particular day, Barça had no intention of taking it easy. Raphinha’s goal was disallowed for offside before the game had even lasted five minutes. He then floated a free kick into the box, where Lewandowski easily headed home to start his three-goal run.
The Polish and Brazilian combination scored again in the 22nd minute. Under Hansi Flick, Raphinha seemed to be improving with each match. This time, he blasted down the left side and curled in the ideal cross for Lewy to double Barça’s lead.
Already a dream start, and we didn’t have long to wait before it got even better. After an hour of play, Eric García, who came on as a late substitute for the injured Ferran Torres, slipped the ball past the Alavés defense and Lewandowski was poised to finish his hat-trick.
His goal total in the Liga season is already in double digits after just nine games!
Alavés’s pointless war
Although Barça was making the task appear simple, no team had triumphed at Mendizorrotza since March. With a goal that was almost called offside and another that struck Iñaki Peña’s post, Toni Martínez did a great job of reminding us why.
Yesterday’s clash was crucial for both teams as they vied for valuable points in the league standings. The atmosphere in the stadium was electric, with fans eager to see if Lewandowski could add to his impressive goal tally. From the very first whistle, it was clear that Lewandowski was in top form.
In addition to winning him the match ball, Lewandowski’s hat-trick had a major effect on the league standings, increasing his team’s chances of winning the championship. His experience and talent show in his ability to perform well under duress, which makes him an essential player in close games.
As the season progresses, fans and analysts alike will be keeping a close eye on Lewandowski. With this hat-trick, he has not only added to his impressive goal tally but has also set a high standard for the rest of the league. If yesterday’s performance is anything to go by, there are surely more thrilling moments to come.
Lewandowski’s understanding of when to drop deep and when to make runs behind the defense adds another layer to his game. This adaptability allows Barcelona to switch tactics fluidly, making them unpredictable to opponents. His ability to exploit defensive gaps has been a key component of Barcelona’s attacking strategy this season.
As Alavés eventually made inroads into the game, they had ample opportunity to turn around what may have appeared to be a hopeless situation. Fortunately, none of those chances were taken advantage of due to subpar finishing and strong Barça defense.
Barça team that had obviously already done more than enough to win the game had undoubtedly lost its spark. But when Ansu Fati joined the battle, it was rekindled. Both the woodwork and some outstanding goalkeeping from Antonio Sivera kept the young player from scoring his first goal since his injury return.
In the end, the first thirty minutes of this game felt like it was already over, and the remaining portions frequently felt like an epilogue. Barça not only took their opportunities, but also did so early on, so Culers didn’t have to worry too much about their nervousness, and that was another three points secured!
Sevilla takes the field at the Estadi Olimpic next. On Sunday, October 20, that is set to begin at 9 p.m. CEST. Embrace it!
