Lewandowski bags Champions League century as Barcelona sink Brest

Robert Lewandowski scored his 100th and 101st UEFA Champions League goals as Barcelona saw off Brest 3-0 at home.

Barca had scored 14 goals in their last three Champions League games but could not quite replicate that free-scoring form despite dominating possession, with Brest offering stiff resistance.

That was until Dami Olmo skipped past two defenders and scored from close range, effectively securing the victory, and Lewandowski added a third goal in added time to punish sloppy defending.

It is Brest’s first defeat in the Champions League this season and means they remain on 10 points. Barcelona have 12 and climb to second in the table, for now.

Lewandowski is just the third player to score 100 Champions League goals, after Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Any club that includes those two is one where you breathe rarefied air.

The feat is testament to both Lewandowski’s devastating quality and longevity. The 125 games it took Lewandowski to reach a century is second only to Messi’s 123, and 12 games quicker than Ronaldo. Lewandowski took considerably fewer shots than both.

Lewandowski has one Champions League winners’ medal to go with those 100 goals. His manager when it was won? Hansi Flick, his current boss at Barca.

He made the first goal himself – albeit with the help of some clumsy goalkeeping – and took the penalty brilliantly. Almost had an assist-of-the-season contender too with a lovely flick for Fermin Lopez, whose shot was saved, before showing off the predatory instincts needed to reach the 100 Club with the third goal. It was unmistakably Lewandowski’s night.

Barcelona: Pena 6, Kounde 7, Cubarsi 7, Martinez 6, Martin 7, Pedri 7, Casado 7, Raphinha 6, Olmo 7, Lewandowski 8. Subs: Gavi 6, Balde 7, Torre 5, De Jong n/a.

Brest: Bizot 7, Lala 6, Chardonnet 8, Le Cardinal 7, Haidara 6, Camara 6, Fernandes 6, Magnetti 6, Doumbia 5, Sima 5, Ajorque 5. Subs: Balde 5, Faivre 5, Lage 6, Del Castillo 5, Martin 5.

9′ – PENALTY TO BARCELONA!– Pedri clips a pass towards Lewandowsi, who controls on his chest and is then wiped out by the goalkeeper. As clear a penalty as you will see.

10′ – GOAL! BARCELONA 1-0 BREST (LEWANDOWSKI) – Lewandowski hops up to the ball and rolls it to the goalkeeper’s left – after he’d gone to the right. A clinical penalty.

40′ – GREAT SAVE – Fermin heads goalwards from 10 yards and is denied by a super Bizot save with his feet.

61′ – STRONG GOALKEEPING – Kounde overlaps, his cross causes chaos and Fermin looks for all the world as though he will stab home a loose ball – until Bizet dives in from nowhere to smother.

66′ – GOAL! BARCELONA 2-0 BREST (OLMO) – Martin is advanced on the Barca left and picks out Olmo with a low cross. Olmo jinks away from a couple of players and then scores – shooting low, hard and in off the goalkeeper.

90+2′ – GOAL! BARCELONA 3-0 BREST (LEWANDOWSKI) – Brest give the ball away by the byline and Balde moves it on to Lewandowski, who takes one touch to control and another to slot past the goalkeeper.