Robert Lewandowski transformed a penalty kick in stoppage time after lacking his first try for Barcelona to win at Celta Vigo 2-1 on Saturday, relieving some stress on the membership forward of a Champions League playoff.
Lewandowski’s first try was saved by Celta goalkeeper Vicente Guaita, however the Poland striker acquired an opportunity to retake the penalty after video evaluation decided Guaita moved off the goal-line earlier than Lewandowski shot.
The veteran then rolled the ball into the nook within the seventh minute of stoppage time to offer Barcelona the victory after the house draw in opposition to Granada within the earlier spherical, when it was jeered by its followers.
“I don’t know what happened in the first penalty, but the goalkeeper was off the line too fast and I had the chance to score as usual in the second penalty,” Lewandowski mentioned. “It was very important for us to get these three points, and now we can start focusing on the Champions League.”
Barcelona visits Napoli on Wednesday within the first leg of the spherical of 16. The five-time European champion is again within the Champions League knockout rounds after two consecutive eliminations within the group stage.
“It was an agonizing win but it was well deserved,” Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández mentioned.
Xavi has been below added stress regardless of asserting lately he’ll step down as Barcelona coach after the season. The crew has received 10 of 12 factors since he made the announcement.
Barcelona is seven factors behind Spanish league chief Real Madrid, which might regain a 10-point hole on Sunday when it visits Rayo Vallecano. Barcelona is 2 factors behind second-placed Girona, which visits Athletic Bilbao on Monday.
Barcelona has a three-point hole on fourth-placed Atletico Madrid, which routed Las Palmas 5-0.
Lewandowski put Barcelona forward by scoring his third purpose in three matches. He properly managed a move by Lamine Yamal earlier than sending a cross shot into the far nook.
Celta equalized early within the second half after Iago Aspas’ low shot that deflected off Barcelona defender Jules Koundé.
Rafa Benítez’s Celta, which has misplaced 5 of its final six matches in all competitions, stayed in seventeenth place, three factors from the relegation zone. Its 3-2 loss at Getafe within the earlier spherical got here after it conceded an 89th-minute purpose.
ATLETICO REBOUNDS
Atletico ended its three-game winless stoop simply in time for the Champions League playoffs, by routing Las Palmas. Atletico goes to Inter Milan within the first leg of the spherical of 16.
Marcos Llorente and Ángel Correa scored twice every and Memphis Depay added one other on the Metropolitano Stadium.
Atletico received the snug win regardless of coach Simeone’s determination to rotate the squad forward of the journey to Milan on Tuesday. Forward Antoine Griezmann was on the bench with midfielder Rodrigo De Paul. Striker Álvaro Morata was out due to an harm.
“We are happy with the effort by the team,” mentioned Correa, who additionally had an help. “Everything labored out nicely for us.”
Las Palmas, which had received three of its final 5 league matches, stayed in eighth place, nonetheless not out of competition for a European place.
Also on Saturday, Ante Budimir scored two second-half objectives as Eleventh-placed Osasuna defeated 18th-placed Cadiz 2-0 at residence. Cadiz’s winless streak was as much as 23 matches in all competitions.
Sevilla and Valencia drew 0-0 in Valencia. Sevilla, which had received two in a row, moved to 14th place. Valencia was eighth.
Source web site: www.hindustantimes.com
