Lamine Yamal’s quickfire double in beneath 10 minutes powered Barcelona to their fifth consecutive win in La Liga, securing a dominant 4-1 victory over Catalan rivals Girona on Sunday.
Second-half strikes from Dani Olmo and Pedri sealed the win, maintaining Barcelona 4 factors clear on the prime.
Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid stayed shut behind with a 3-0 overcome bottom-placed Valencia, due to objectives from Antoine Griezmann and newcomers Julian Alvarez and Conor Gallagher.
Real Madrid had already secured a 2-0 victory over Real Sociedad on Saturday, with Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior discovering the again of the web.
Along with Atletico and Madrid, Villarreal had been the opposite staff 4 factors behind Barcelona after successful 2-1 at Mallorca on Saturday.
“To help the team, it’s important to score the goals and do whatever is needed,” Yamal stated. “The first match after the international break is always complicated. Now we can start focusing on the match against Monaco (in the Champions League on Thursday).”
Yamal’s objectives on Sunday had been his second and third of the season. The 17-year-old Spain worldwide opened the scoring after stealing the ball from a defender and sending a close-range shot into the web within the thirtieth minute. He scored once more within the thirty seventh after selecting up a unfastened ball inside the realm.
Olmo’s third purpose since becoming a member of Barcelona this season got here from a decent angle within the forty seventh minute, and Pedri sealed the straightforward victory with a purpose from inside the realm within the sixty fourth.
Olmo, who had to get replaced within the second half because of a proper leg damage, turned the primary participant to attain in his first three league video games for Barcelona since Cesc Fàbregas in 2011. Only Zlatan Ibrahimović, in 2009, achieved the identical feat this century.
Cristhian Stuani scored Girona’s lone purpose within the eightieth minute.
The hosts had been initially awarded a penalty for a handball inside the realm simply earlier than halftime, with Barcelona main 2-0, however the name was reversed by video evaluate.
Barcelona performed with 10 males from the 87th minute after Ferran Torres was despatched off for a tough foul on an opponent.
Poland striker Robert Lewandowski performed his one centesimal match for Barcelona.
Girona, a shock third-place finisher final season, gained each league video games towards Barcelona final season.
Newly signed Argentina ahead Alvarez and England midfielder Gallagher scored their first objectives for Atletico Madrid within the staff’s 3-0 win over last-place Valencia.
Álvarez sealed the house victory in stoppage time after Gallagher had opened the scoring within the thirty ninth minute and Griezmann had doubled the lead within the 54th.
“I didn’t feel like I was under pressure to score,” Alvarez stated. “I was ready for when the opportunity appeared.”
It was the second consecutive win for Atletico and their third in 5 league matches. Diego Simeone’s staff drew their different two video games.
Valencia have opened their season with 4 losses and a draw – 1-1 towards Villarreal within the earlier spherical.
Earlier Sunday, 10-man Athletic Bilbao gained 3-2 at Las Palmas, who haven’t gained in 19 straight league video games going again to final season. It was the second win for Athletic this season.
Celta Vigo beat Valladolid 3-1 at residence for his or her first win after two consecutive losses. It was the fourth straight sport with out a win for Valladolid after they opened with a victory at Espanyol. Valladolid misplaced three of their subsequent 4 video games.
Source: www.dailysabah.com