Lewandowski and Raphinha fire braces in thumping Barcelona win

Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha both scored twice as Barcelona beat Villarreal 5-1 in a tense affair at Estadio de la Ceramica.

It was not quite as one-sided as the scoreline suggested, with the hosts pulling it back to 2-1 in the first half through Ayoze Perez and seeing two goals disallowed through VAR.

Barcelona extend their lead at the top of La Liga and continue their perfect start to the season.

The home side thought they’d found an early lead when Barcelona were put on the backfoot as Yeremy Pino was able to lob the ball over Marc Andre te Stegen before an offside flag was raised.

But it was Robert Lewandowski who opened the scoring inside 20 minutes after a superb pass from Pablo Torre played in the Poland international, who slotted it past Diego Conde to secure his fifth goal.

The 36-year-old scored his second 15 minutes later with an overhead kick finding the back of the net after.

The home side were able to limit their loses just moments later when the former Arsenal forward Nicolas Pepe beat the offside trap and squared the ball to Ayoze Perez, who found the target.

Villarreal had several changes to equal the tie as Pepe came close either side of the break before Pablo Torre extended Barca’s lead in the 58th minute with a low shot from the outside of the box.

Lewandowski was denied a hat-trick after VAR awarded Barcelona a penalty when Yamal was brought down in the box but it was the woodwork, with the woodwork keeping Villarreal in the tie, before Thierno Barry saw his goal chalked off.

Raphinha added his name to the scoresheet in the 74th minute with a powerful strike taking a deflection to find the bottom left corner, before scoring his second of the game ten minutes later after a wonderful long ball from Yamal.

Barcelona’s win sees 27-time La Liga champions maintain their unbeaten run and a four point lead on Real Madrid, whilst Villarreal slip to their first defeat of the season.

Barca boss Hansi Flick has had little luck in his first season in charge of the Spanish giants despite their unbeaten run.

Marc Andre te Stegen landed awkwardly and was stretchered off as Barcelona’s injury list continues to grow with their €60 million signing Dani Olmo ruled out until after the October international break, joining Fermin Lopez, Gavi, Frenkie de Jong, Marc Bernal, Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen on the sidelines.

Despite that, Barcelona have proved unstoppable, scoring an incredible 22 goals and conceding just five in their opening six games. And whilst Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal didn’t get his name on the scoresheet, two assists against Villarreal continues an impressive record.

Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona) – Whilst he was denied a hat-trick by the woodwork, the Poland international was clinical and could have had several goals to his name, asides from the two he did score. He might be surrounded by a young, exciting team but 36-year-old continues to impress and be the forward Barcelona were needing.

Barcelona: ter Stegen 6; Martin 6, Martinez 6, Dominguez 6, Kounde 7; Pedri 7, Eric Garcia 5, Torre 7; Raphinha 8, Lewandowski 8 , Yamal 8 Subs: Cubarsi 6, Pena 7, Casado 6, Victor 7, Fort 6

Villarreal: Conde 6; Cardona 6, Bailly 6, Costa 6, Femenia 6; Baena 6, Parejo 6, Comesana 6, Pino 7; Perez 7, Pepe 7 Subs: Suarez 6, Akomach 5, Barry 6, Gueye 6, Terrats 6

8′ OFFSIDE GOAL FOR VILLARREAL – Another terrific long ball puts Barca in danger as Pino is able to lob the ball over te Stegen in goal but Barcelona are lucky as the offside flag is raised.

20′ GOAL! Villarreal 0 – 1 Barcelona (Lewandowski) – It’s a superb pass from Pablo Torre to play in Lewandowski after some great hold up play from the Poland international. He slots it past Conde and secures his fifth goal of the season.

35′ GOAL! VILLARREAL 0 – 2 BARCELONA (LEWANDOWSKI) – He’s got his second. Yamal sends in a great ball which Eric Garcia is able to get on the end of, he pushes it into the path of Lewandowski and the 36-year-old manages to find the back of the net with an overhead kick.

38′ GOAL! VILLARREAL 1 – 2 BARCELONA (Perez) – Pepe, who has been excellent, is picked out and escapes the offside trap, he’s squares the ball to Ayoze Perez who gives Villarreal a path back into the clash.

50′ PEPE OFFSIDE – Pepe thinks he might have beaten the offside trap and scored the equaliser but he’s offside.

58′ GOAL! VILLARREAL 1 – 3 Barcelona (Torre 58′) – Pablo Torre hits a low shot from the outside of the box and it’s enough to beat Conde and retake a two goal lead.

65′ PENALTY FOR BARCA – Yamal is brought down in the box and the referee waves it away. But VAR stops the game and after going to the screen, a penalty is given.

66′ MISSED PENALTY – Lewandowski takes the penalty and it’s a low one to the goalkeeper’s right and it’s the woodwork which denies Barca’s striker a hat-trick.

68′ DISALLOWED GOAL FOR VILLARREAL! They thought they’d scored again but it’s VAR that rules out Thierno Barry a goal after some great work.

74′ GOAL! VILLARREAL 1 – 4 BARCELONA (Raphinha) – Surely it’s over now! Raphinha gets his goal after his powerful strike takes a deflection and finds the bottom left corner.

83′ GOAL! VILLARREAL 1 – 5 BARCELONA (Raphinha) – Yamal picks out Raphinha’s run with a wonderful long ball and Raphinha makes no mistake scoring his second of the game.