LALIGA leaders FC Barcelona maintained their winning record after thrashing Villarreal 5-1 on Sunday evening.
LALIGA
Result: Villarreal 1-5 Barcelona
Date: 22 September 2024
Venue: Estadio de la Cerámica
Barca did not tamper with the attacking trio of Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski from their defeat against Monaco in the UEFA Champions League but there were two changes at the back as Gerard Martin, Sergi Dominguez and another new face in midfield Pablo Torre, all came in.
Blaugrana took time before they could get going but once they got into their stride after 20 minutes, Lewandowski eventually opened the scoring from a one-on-one finish following a through ball by Torre.
Before Villarreal could sort themselves out, ten minutes before the break, Lewandowski doubled their lead and got his brace with an overhead kick from close-range after a cross by Yamal.
The Yellow Submarine eventually responded three minutes later after Ayoze Perez slammed home a strike from a cross by Nicolas Pepe.
Villarreal had the momentum towards the end of the first stanza as Pepe had a big chance to level matters after he went through on goal, one-on-one with goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen but the German goalkeeper deflected his shot wide.
The game opened up from the break as five minutes in Pepe found the back of the net for the Yellow Submarine but the goal was disallowed for a marginal offside.
Hansi Flick's charges heeded the wake up call, as shortly before the hour-mark, Torre restored their lead with a strike from the edge of the box that took a nasty deflection and wrong-footed goalkeeper Diego Conde.
With Barca on the front foot midway into the second stanza, Lewandowski had a glorious chance to make it 4-1 and complete his hat-trick from the penalty spot but he fired his shot wide, after a foul on Yamal in the box.
However, Raphinha eventually sealed the deal for Blaugrana in the last quarter of an hour, as he made it 4-1 with a clinical shot around the penalty area following a cut-back by Pau Victor.
Villarreal were submitting to the Catalan giants towards the end, as Raphinha added the fifth goal and completed his brace with a tap-in, after a square pass by Yamal.
Flick's men restored their four-point, over second-placed and rivals Real Madrid, at the top of the standings.
