Robert Lewandowski performed the hero for Barcelona, netting two targets as La Blaugrana staged a comeback to defeat Alaves, sustaining stride with Real Madrid and Girona in La Liga.
The 2-1 residence victory on Sunday moved Barcelona again inside two factors of second-place Madrid, who routed Valencia 5-1 on Saturday.
Barcelona are 4 factors behind fellow Catalan membership Girona, the shock leaders that got here from behind to win 2-1 at Rayo Vallecano, additionally on Saturday.
Barcelona stayed two factors in entrance of Atletico Madrid, who got here from behind to defeat Villarreal 3-1 with a objective and an help by Antoine Griezmann.
It was the fifteenth straight league residence win for Atletico, surpassing the run of 14 victories in a row on the Vicente Calderon Stadium between May 2012 and February 2013.
Alaves took the lead in a breakaway one minute into the match in Montjuic after Barcelona midfielder İlkay Gündoğan misplaced possession close to midfield, however Lewandowski helped the hosts rebound with a header within the 53rd and a penalty kick within the 78th.
Lewandowski, who was sidelined not too long ago with an harm, had not scored in six matches since getting a double within the 3-2 win towards Celta Vigo in September.
“We played a bit better, but we are not going through our best moment,” Barcelona coach Xavi said. “We got here via in a match that grew to become troublesome. The worldwide break will likely be good for us, so we are able to regroup. We will enhance, I’m sure.”
Barcelona have been coming off a 1-0 loss at Shakhtar Donetsk within the group stage of the Champions League.
Two rounds in the past, they misplaced 2-1 to Madrid at residence within the first “clasico” (basic) of the season in La Liga.
Barcelona then wanted a stoppage-time objective to win at Real Sociedad final weekend.
Barcelona prolonged their unbeaten run towards Alaves within the league to 12 league video games, with 10 wins and two attracts.
Alaves beat last-place Almeria within the earlier spherical to finish a seven-game winless streak within the league.
Barcelona remained with out injured midfielders Frenkie de Jong and Sergi Roberto, and Xavi additionally couldn’t depend on the suspended Gavi.
Pedri, who was coming off an harm, was again within the beginning lineup after coming off the bench within the final two matches.
Teenager Lamine Yamal additionally began after sitting on the bench over the past 4 matches.
Before the match, Barcelona ladies’s staff participant Aitana Bonmati introduced the Ballon d’Or trophy she received final month to followers.
Atleti’s document
Atletico fell behind when Villarreal striker Gerard Moreno scored within the twentieth, however the hosts rallied with targets by Axel Witsel in first-half stoppage time, Griezmann within the eightieth and Samuel Lino within the eighty fifth.
It was the seventh objective in six matches for Griezmann, who, together with Alvaro Morata, is main an assault that has scored 29 targets in 12 league matches.
Atletico have been coming off a 6-0 rout of Celtic at residence within the group stage of the Champions League.
They are unbeaten in 12 video games in all competitions, with 10 wins and two attracts.
Atletico received all of their six video games at residence this season, plus the final 9 from final season, to set the brand new membership document on the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.
“It’s always a plus to play in front of these fans,” Griezmann said. “They at all times give us an additional enhance.”
The staff, coached by Diego Simeone, who final week had his contract prolonged till 2027, has a recreation in hand, as a house match towards Sevilla in September was suspended due to dangerous climate.
It was the seventh league loss for 14th-place Villarreal, which had sports activities director Miguel Angel Tena in cost after coach Jose Rojo Martin, generally known as “Pacheta,” was fired final week.
Villarreal misplaced striker Alexander Sorloth due to an harm within the first half. The Norwegian worldwide sustained what gave the impression to be a hamstring downside.
Seville derby
Ivan Rakitic scored within the 79th minute to offer Sevilla a 1-1 draw with rival Real Betis within the Seville derby.
Ayoze Perez put the guests forward within the 72nd.
Sevilla, sitting in thirteenth place, had its winless streak within the league prolonged to 6 matches, with 5 attracts in its final 5 video games.
Manuel Pellegrini’s Betis, in seventh place, received 5 in a row in all competitions, together with two straight in La Liga.
Source: www.dailysabah.com