Robert Lewandowski scored twice in Barcelona바카라s 4-0 win at last-place Elche on Saturday as the Catalan club opened up a 15-point lead atop the standings in pursuit of its first Spanish league title in four years. (More Football news)
Robert Lewandowski scored twice in Barcelona바카라s 4-0 win at last-place Elche on Saturday as the Catalan club opened up a 15-point lead atop the standings in pursuit of its first Spanish league title in four years.
Robert Lewandowski scored twice in Barcelona바카라s 4-0 win at last-place Elche on Saturday as the Catalan club opened up a 15-point lead atop the standings in pursuit of its first Spanish league title in four years. (More Football news)
Lewandowski opened the scoring in the 20th minute and added Barcelona바카라s third goal in the 66th to take his league-leading tally to 17 goals in his first season in Spain.
Ansu Fati doubled the lead in the 56th and Ferran Torres rounded off one of Barcelona바카라s most comfortable victories of the campaign in the 70th.
Barcelona picked right up where it left off before last week바카라s international break when it beat Madrid 2-1 in the league to deal what is looking like a decisive blow to its rival바카라s title defense.
Second-place Madrid plays Real Valladolid on Sunday.
Barcelona will try to beat Madrid again on Wednesday in the second leg of their Copa del Rey semifinal match. Barcelona won the first leg 1-0 in the capital.
The goals ended scoring droughts for all three of Barcelona바카라s forwards. Lewandowski hadn바카라t scored in five games 바카라 three with Barcelona and two with Poland 바카라 since his goal against Manchester United in a 2-0 loss in the Europa League on Feb. 23.
Ansu, who struck from outside the area, hadn바카라t scored since Jan. 19 in the Copa del Rey, while his last goal in the league was in October. Torres hadn바카라t found the net since scoring twice in Spain바카라s 7-0 win over Costa Rica in the World Cup in November.
Lewandowski got his first goal after receiving a headed pass by Ronald Araújo in the area when he knocked down a long free kick by Jordi Alba. Lewandowski바카라s second goal came after Gavi won possession and played the striker clear.
바카라This is not over and we have to keep going,바카라 Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández said. 바카라It was a well-rounded night for us and for players who needed to boost their confidence.바카라
Given the opponent and his team바카라s commanding league lead, Xavi allowed himself to experiment with his lineup. Little-used central defender Éric García started in a new position for him as the team바카라s holding midfielder, while regular starter Sergio Busquets stayed on the bench ahead of the 바카라clasico.바카라
Saturday바카라s game was the debut of Argentine Sebastián Beccacece as Elche바카라s fourth coach of the season.
The hosts looked like a team that has only won twice in 27 rounds. Elche finished the game 58 points behind Barcelona 바카라 13 to 71 바카라 and, more importantly, 14 points from safety. It was without first-choice striker Lucas Boyé, who served a one-game suspension.
바카라We are not stupid. We know that it is going to be very tough and that time is running out,바카라 Elche defender Carlos Clerc said, adding that the team will still fight on for its fans.
WINNING DEBUT
José Luis Mendilibar had a winning debut as Sevilla바카라s new coach after it beat Cadiz 2-0. Lucas Ocampos and Youssef En-Nesyri scored in the second half.
Mendilibar, 62, has coached several Spanish clubs, with his longest spells in charge of Eibar. He is Sevilla바카라s third coach of the season after Jorge Sampaoli and Julen Lopetegui both were let go.
NEW CONTRACT
Athletic Bilbao바카라s Oihan Sancet broke the news to the team바카라s fans that he had agreed to a long contract extension following its 0-0 draw with Getafe.
Sancet was handed a microphone just moments after the final whistle to make the announcement to the San Mames Stadium.
He agreed to a new deal that will tie the 22-year-old midfielder to the Basque club through 2032. Sancet leads the team with eight goals this season.
바카라I am thrilled to stay here, and we thought there was no better way to tell my supporters,바카라 Sancet said. 바카라It is a long contract. I am motivated to return the confidence the club has placed in me.바카라
Also, Cristhian Stuani converted an 88th-minute penalty to give Girona a 2-1 win over Espanyol, which is danger of falling into the relegation zone after four defeats in a row.