For the second recreation in a row, Robert Lewandowski performed the hero for Barcelona, securing a 2-1 victory at Osasuna on Sunday by profitable and efficiently changing an 86th-minute penalty.
Lewandowski’s winner got here 10 minutes after substitute Chimy Avila equalized for Osasuna. Barcelona defender Jules Kounde headed within the opening objective in first-half damage time.
Barcelona’s win stored it two factors behind Spanish league chief Real Madrid after 4 rounds.
Lewandowski additionally scored the winner for Barcelona in a 4-3 thriller at Villarreal final weekend.
“He is a natural-born scorer,” coach Xavi Hernandez stated about Lewandowski, who helped Barcelona get better the league title final yr after he arrived from Bayern Munich.
“Maybe he didn’t have that many touches today, but even if he hadn’t scored, it would have been a great game by him,” Xavi said. “His targets have given us back-to-back wins.”
The recreation in Pamplona included the debuts of Joao Cancelo and Joao Felix as second-half substitutes. The Portugal gamers joined Barcelona on mortgage offers simply earlier than the shut of the summer season switch window on Friday night time.
Osasuna performed the ultimate minutes with 10 males after Alejandro Catena earned a pink card for his foul on Lewandowski with solely goalkeeper Aitor Fernandez to beat. Lewandowski’s objective from the ensuing penalty was his second of the season.
For Xavi, the win was not fairly however it was nicely earned at Osasuna, a crew which reached the Copa del Rey closing final season and whose bodily type places most guests to the check.
“We didn’t play our best game, and in some stages we weren’t patient enough or able to create scoring chances,” Xavi said. “(But) the reality is the crew labored onerous. Today we placed on our work garments. We knew how you can dig in and get the win.”
Kounde broke by means of in first-half damage time when he dismissed his marker and headed a nook kick by Ilkay Gündoğan contained in the far submit and out of attain of Fernandez.
Cancelo made his first look as an alternative simply two days after he joined Barcelona on mortgage from Manchester City. The proper again changed Sergi Roberto with simply over half an hour to go.
Shortly after, Osasuna coach Jagoba Arrasate renewed his whole assault, sending on Chimy, Ante Budimir and Kike Barja. The hosts quickly pressed Barcelona into defending its space.
Chimy’s equalizer was much like so many targets scored by fellow Argentine Lionel Messi for Barcelona. Apparently nicely marked by Alejandro Balde exterior the world, Chimy sped from proper to left alongside the sting of the field earlier than unleashing a left-footed strike that curled round a bunch of defenders and went in off the submit.
After Chimy’s objective, Felix, who arrived from Atletico Madrid, went on with 10-plus minutes remaining.
Lewandowski and Frenkie de Jong linked up in time to tug out the win. De Jong, who had began the sport with a shot off the submit, met a run by Lewandowski with a protracted ball that the Poland striker used one contact to manage – simply earlier than he tumbled when Catena yanked his arm.
“We played a great game,” Arrasate said. “It is just too unhealthy that we will’t present something for it. But that is the way in which ahead.”
Central defender Inigo Martinez additionally made his Barcelona debut within the closing moments of the sport. The former Athletic Bilbao participant had been injured since signing for Barcelona this summer season as a free agent.
Sixteen-year-old Yamine Lamal made a 3rd consecutive begin for Barcelona. On Friday {the teenager} was known as up for Spain’s nationwide crew for the primary time for upcoming European Championship qualifiers.
Atletico recreation postponed
Atletico Madrid’s residence recreation towards Sevilla scheduled for Sunday was postponed forward of forecasts of heavy rain in central Spain, the Spanish league stated.
The Spanish league stated it postponed the match after contemplating the warnings from Spain’s nationwide climate service and the advice of Madrid’s municipal authorities.
Welcome again
Cristian “Portu” Portugues scored an 88th-minute winner to offer Girona a 1-0 win over Las Palmas in his first recreation since returning to his former membership.
The ahead, who signed for Girona on Friday, had performed for the Catalan membership from 2016 to 2019 earlier than stints with Real Sociedad and Getafe.
The undefeated Girona is the early shock of the league and is degree on factors with Barcelona. Besides Las Palmas, Girona beat Sevilla and Getafe, and drew towards Sociedad.
Also, Athletic Bilbao drew 0-0 at Mallorca.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
