Robert Lewandowski celebrated his 34th birthday by opening his Barcelona account with a brace as the Catalans turned what was a tricky encounter into an emphatic away win. Usually on your birthday you receive the 'beats', but the Polish international was more than happy to dish them out with two goals and a cheeky assist.
The game got off to a frantic start. Not even a minute had gone and Lewandowski slotted into the corner after a marauding 60-yard run from left back Alejandro Balde for 1-0. The home side were not to be behind for long however as in the 6th minute Alexander Isak squared things up. The Swede burst through and just as he was shooting Eric Garcia challenged him, the ball ricocheted back off of Isak who was still in his shooting motion and it dinked over the head of Marc-Andre ter Stegen. The end-to-end play continued for the rest of the first period. Andreas Christensen was lucky to escape conceding a free-kick and receiving a card for a push on Isak just outside the box in the 15th minute. In the 24th minute Ferran Torres put a left foot wide, then just a few minutes later ter Stegen was called into action. Barcelona were caught on the break and Mikel Merino was found by Isak but ter Stegen pushed away Merino's left foot drive before Japanese youngster Take put the rebound wide.
Sociedad should have been ahead just a minute before the break as ter Stegen was again alert. David Silva shaped himself like he was going to have a powerful shot at goal only to shoot low and ter Stegen turned the ball away for a corner. That was not to be the last chance of a pulsating first half as at the other end Lewandowski shot straight at Alex Remiro in the Sociedad goal in injury time.
Early in the second half Xavi Hernandez's men survived a massive scare as the home side thought they had gone in front. Brais Mendez's free-kick curled into the box bounced and went into the far corner but it was harshly ruled out for an offside. Robin Le Normand stretched to try and get on the end of the set-piece and was adjudged to have altered the keeper's view. This seemed to spur Barca on and they came up the other end and Ousmane Dembele's goalbound effort was deflected wide. Five minutes later Merino was denied for the second time by ter Stegen but then after that it was the 'Catalan Show' Frenkie de Jong pulled strings in the midfield and more importantly Ansu fati was brought on for Balde, then the ever-threatening Dembele put Barca ahead again. A lovely move saw Fati backheel the ball to Dembele and the Frenchman clinically fired low into the far corner. It momentarily looked like the rebirth of 1970's Brazil, 'Xaviball' was in full effect.
Two minutes later Dembele should have got his second and the third Barca goal, Fati then had an opportunity, before birthday boy Lewandowski did indeed get the third goal and his second. Lewandowski was the predator finishing with great aplomb after a brilliant touch from Fati into his path after Pedri's incisive pass. After starting so well Imanol Alguacil's men were now all at sea and Fati who turned the game after his introduction got his reward after laying on two goals. Lewandowski audaciously controlled a ball from Raphinha and then produced the second backheeled assist of the night as he found Fati whose composed finish found the bottom corner for 4-1.
Barcelona's first win of the season moves them up to 5th while Sociedad drop down to 10th. Next up for the home side is a trip to Elche on Saturday. Barca host Valladolid on Sunday.
@DubulDee
Comments