Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha every scored twice as La Liga leaders Barcelona cruised to a 5-1 victory over Villarreal on Sunday, although the win was overshadowed by a probably severe knee damage to goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Atletico Madrid, in fourth place, had been held to a 1-1 draw by metropolis rivals Rayo Vallecano, with Conor Gallagher scoring his second purpose for the Rojiblancos.
Barcelona’s good begin to the season – six wins from six – was marred when Ter Stegen was stretchered off after an ungainly touchdown whereas accumulating a cross. Early indicators point out he might miss the remainder of the season.
“I think it will be a huge injury; when he lay down on the field, you could see it directly,” Barcelona coach Hansi Flick informed DAZN.
Lewandowski scored Barcelona’s first two objectives and later missed a penalty in an entertaining battle at Villarreal’s Estadio de la Cerámica.
Ayoze Perez pulled Villarreal again into the sport shortly earlier than halftime. The beforehand unbeaten hosts had two objectives disallowed, whereas Pablo Torre and Raphinha’s strikes secured Barcelona’s victory.
After second-place Real Madrid thrashed Espanyol 4-1 on Saturday, the Catalans restored their four-point lead over the defending champions.
“It’s very important for us that we played a game away from home, scored five goals, and in the end, we have three points,” Lewandowski stated.
“In the end, it doesn’t matter how we win, as long as we win, that’s perfect.”
Flick gave Eric Garcia one other begin in defensive midfield regardless of his early crimson card within the midweek Champions League defeat in opposition to Monaco.
The German coach additionally began reserve workforce gamers Gerard Martin and Sergi Dominguez, together with playmaker Torre, instead of the injured Dani Olmo.
Teenage star Lamine Yamal hit the publish early on earlier than Lewandowski slotted dwelling within the twentieth minute after Torre set him up.
Villarreal goalkeeper Diego Conde did nicely to maintain out a bundled effort from Lewandowski, however the Polish striker pounced after 35 minutes for his second purpose.
Conde saved Garcia’s header, however Lewandowski transformed the rebound with an acrobatic end from shut vary.
It was Lewandowski’s sixth La Liga purpose of the season, placing him two away from Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe within the race for Spain’s Golden Boot.
Villarreal often threatened on the counter, and Perez gave them a lifeline after Nicolas Pepe set him up.
Ter Stegen thwarted Pepe with a sensational one-on-one save earlier than halftime, however the Barcelona captain was later stretchered off after catching a nook. He was changed by Inaki Pena.
Pepe’s purpose early within the second half was disallowed for a marginal offside name, and Yeremy Pino hit the bar with a header as Marcelino Garcia Toral’s facet pushed Barcelona again.
Torre prolonged Barcelona’s lead with a deflected strike from the sting of the field, a vital blow given Villarreal’s momentum.
Lewandowski hit the publish from the spot after Eric Bailly introduced down Yamal, and Villarreal’s Thierno Barry had a purpose dominated out for offside.
Raphinha ended any hopes of a Villarreal comeback, first with a deflected shot after which ending after Yamal’s excellent go left him with solely Conde to beat.
“(Ter Stegen) is a very special and important person in the dressing room. This victory is 100% for him,” Raphinha informed DAZN.
Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois despatched Ter Stegen a message on social media platform X.
“It hurt me a lot to see you leave the pitch like that,” the Belgian wrote. “I hope you can recover soon, and we see you back in goal.”
In a Madrid derby, Diego Simeone’s unbeaten Atletico couldn’t discover a well beyond Rayo Vallecano.
Rayo’s Isi Palazon scored from shut vary after 35 minutes, and the purpose was ultimately awarded after initially being dominated offside.
Gallagher completed neatly from the sting of the field early within the second half after Alexander Sorloth set him up.
“(At halftime Simeone) told us we all had to run; these days, anyone not running here cannot play,” Atletico captain Koke informed Movistar.
“We had chances to get the winner, but it wasn’t to be.”
Athletic Bilbao overtook Atletico to maneuver into third place with a 3-1 win in opposition to Celta Vigo.
Source: www.dailysabah.com