Robert Lewandowski got here to the rescue of Barcelona, scoring twice because the Catalan membership rallied to beat Alaves and maintain tempo with Real Madrid and Girona within the Spanish league.
The 2-1 house victory on Sunday moved Barcelona again inside two factors of second-place Madrid, which routed Valencia 5-1 on Saturday. Barcelona is 4 factors behind fellow Catalan membership Girona, the shock chief that got here from behind to win 2-1 at Rayo Vallecano, additionally on Saturday.
Barcelona stayed two factors in entrance of Atletico Madrid, which got here from behind to defeat Villarreal 3-1 with a purpose and an help by Antoine Griezmann. It was the fifteenth straight league house win for Atletico, surpassing the run of 14 victories in a row on the Vicente Calderon Stadium between May 2012 and February 2013.
Alaves took the lead in a breakaway one minute into the match in Montjuic after Barcelona midfielder Ilkay Gundogan misplaced possession close to midfield, however Lewandowski helped the hosts rebound with a header within the 53th and a penalty kick within the 78th.
Lewandowski, who was sidelined lately with an harm, hadn’t scored in six matches since getting a double within the 3-2 win towards Celta Vigo in September.
“We played a bit better, but we are not going through our best moment,” Barcelona coach Xavi mentioned. “We came through in a match that became difficult. The international break will be good for us so we can regroup. We will improve, I’m certain.”
Barcelona was coming off a 1-0 loss at Shakhtar Donetsk within the group stage of the Champions League. Two rounds in the past it misplaced 2-1 to Madrid at house within the first “clasico” of the season within the Spanish league. Barcelona then wanted a stoppage-time purpose to win at Real Sociedad final weekend.
Barcelona prolonged its unbeaten run towards Alaves within the league to 12 league video games, with 10 wins and two attracts.
Alaves beat last-place Almeria within the earlier spherical to finish a seven-game winless streak within the league.
Barcelona remained with out injured midfielders Frenkie de Jong and Sergi Roberto, and Xavi additionally couldn’t rely on the suspended Gavi.
Pedri, who was coming off an harm, was again within the beginning lineup after coming off the bench within the final two matches. Teenager Lamine Yamal additionally began after being on the bench within the final 4 matches.
Before the match, Barcelona girls’s staff participant Aitana Bonmatí offered the Ballon d’Or trophy she gained final month to followers.
ATLETICO RECORD
Atletico fell behind when Villarreal striker Gerard Moreno scored within the twentieth, however the hosts rallied with targets by Axel Witsel in first-half stoppage time, Griezmann within the eightieth and Samuel Lino within the eighty fifth.
It was the seventh purpose in six matches for Griezmann who, together with Álvaro Morata, is main an assault that has scored 29 targets in 12 league matches.
Atletico was coming off a 6-0 rout of Celtic at house within the group stage of the Champions League. It is unbeaten in 12 video games in all competitions, with 10 wins and two attracts. Atletico gained all of its six video games at house this season, plus the final 9 from final season to set the brand new membership file on the Metropolitano stadium.
“It’s always a plus to play in front of these fans,” Griezmann mentioned. “They always give us an extra boost.”
The staff coached by Diego Simeone, who final week had his contract prolonged till 2027, has a recreation in hand as a house match towards Sevilla in September was suspended due to unhealthy climate.
It was the seventh league loss for 14th-place Villarreal, which had sports activities director Miguel Ángel Tena in cost after coach José Rojo Martín, generally known as “Pacheta,” was fired final week.
Villarreal misplaced striker Alexander Sorloth due to an harm within the first half. The Norway worldwide sustained what gave the impression to be a hamstring downside.
SEVILLE DERBY
Ivan Rakitic scored within the 79th minute to provide Sevilla a 1-1 draw with rival Real Betis within the Seville derby.
Ayoze Pérez had put the guests forward within the 72nd.
Sevilla, sitting in thirteenth place, had its winless streak within the league prolonged to 6 matches, with 5 attracts in its final 5 video games.
Manuel Pellegrini’s Betis, in seventh place, had gained 5 in a row in all competitions, together with two straight within the Spanish league.
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