Lewan lifts Barca back to the summit

BARCELONA－Relentless striker Robert Lewandowski pounced twice as Barcelona hammered 10-man Elche 3-0 to move a point clear at the top of La Liga on Saturday.

The Polish forward continued his sensational form since joining from Bayern Munich this summer, taking him to 11 goals in eight appearances across all competitions.

Real Madrid boasts a 100 percent record after five games but was due to face city rival Atletico Madrid away in Sunday's derby.

So this was an opportunity for Barcelona to depose the champion and it seized its chance.

"We'll sleep as leaders for the first time in two years," said Barca coach Xavi Hernandez. "We've done our homework and got the three points. We're on the right path."

Xavi rotated in midfield after the Champions League defeat by Bayern Munich on Tuesday, with Frenkie de Jong and Franck Kessie stepping in, while Memphis Depay was handed a rare start in attack.

Elche, bottom of the table, made the job significantly easier for the host when Gonzalo Verdu hauled down Lewandowski as he burst through on goal after 14 minutes and was swiftly dismissed.

Barcelona racked up the chances and inevitably Lewandowski broke the deadlock after 34 minutes.

Pedri set Alejandro Balde free down the left and the young defender cut a ball across the sixyard box for the veteran striker to simply cushion into the net.

"We knew he would score goals and make the difference, but the personal side of him has surprised me," said Xavi.

"He has a lot of humility, commitment, hunger. He's very hardworking."

Memphis doubled the lead with a sharp individual turn and powerful strike which flew past Edgar Badia, and Pedri added a third shortly before halftime but it was disallowed for offside.

Barcelona only had to wait three second-half minutes for it, with Lewandowski pouncing on a loose ball in the box and finishing clinically to put the game beyond Elche's reach.

After Cadiz's late win over Real Valladolid on Friday night, Francisco Rodriguez's side was left bottom of La Liga on one point, and never looked like changing it against Xavi's sparkling Barca.

Badia denied Lewandowski his hat-trick with a fine save and the striker fired fractionally over the bar before being replaced by Ferran Torres, to an ovation from home supporters already under his spell.

Long after Lewandowski had been replaced, his name continued to ring around the stadium. In the forward, Barcelona finally has a player to replace Lionel Messi's goal contributions and help it compete for the league title again, which the Catalan giant last won in 2019.

Lewandowski's arrival and the club's summer spree has given supporters a reason to watch again, as the 85,000-strong crowd testified to, compared to last season's languishing attendances.

"The excitement of the fans is palpable, in the stadium, in the streets, you have to maintain this hope and belief," added Xavi.

"The people are connected, Barcelona's support is more alive than ever."

AFP