Lewandowski Shines As Barcelona Secures Ruthless Victory Over Girona

‎FC Barcelona showcased their title credentials with a resounding 4-1 victory over Girona at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.

‎Robert Lewandowski was once again the star of the show, scoring two goals that solidified Barcelona’s position at the top of La Liga and also put him in pole position for the prestigious Pichichi Trophy.

‎With this win, Barcelona maintained their three-point cushion ahead of rivals Real Madrid, who secured a dramatic victory the previous evening against Leganes.

‎Early Warning Signs

‎Barcelona entered the match looking to assert their dominance early on, and they nearly found the net within the first few minutes.

‎Fermín López was the first to threaten, only to have his attempt blocked by a tenacious Girona defender. Lewandowski, ever a clinical finisher, followed up with a shot aimed at the bottom-right corner, which was expertly saved by Girona’s goalkeeper, Paulo Gazzaniga.

‎The tension built as Girona struggled to contain Barcelona’s attacking qualities.

‎A potential penalty was controversially waved off when Yáser Asprilla appeared to bring down López inside the box. After a VAR check, the on-field decision stood, with the free kick awarded just outside the area, though it ultimately came to nothing.

‎Opening Goal

‎Despite Girona’s tenacity, Barcelona wasn’t to be denied. In the closing moments of the first half, a free kick was awarded after Yangel Herrera fouled a Barcelona player.

‎The resulting set piece created chaos in the Girona defense, leading to Ladislav Krejčí inadvertently diverting the ball into his own net after Lamine Yamal’s clever flick. This late first-half goal was a crucial moment, granting Barcelona the advantage they had worked hard for.

‎Girona’s Resilience

‎The second half began with a surprising twist. Just eight minutes after the restart, Girona leveled the score through a swift counterattack. A defensive mistake from Ronald Araújo allowed Daley Blind to seize the opportunity, setting up Arnaut Danjuma, who made no mistake in finding the back of the net.

‎Lewandowski to the Rescues

‎However, Barcelona was quick to respond and reassert their authority. Following a well-crafted sequence of passes, Gavi delivered a pinpoint cross to López. Instead of taking a difficult header from a tight angle, López wisely directed the ball across goal, where Lewandowski was poised to capitalize.

‎The Polish striker leaped high, directing the header beyond Gazzaniga, bringing his LaLiga tally to an impressive 24 goals two ahead of Kylian Mbappé in the race for the Pichichi Trophy.

‎With the wind back in their sails, Barcelona was relentless. Just moments later, Lewandowski was involved again in another devastating attack.

‎A rapid break forward saw Frenkie De Jong feed the ball to Lewandowski inside the box. The striker, cool and composed as always, placed an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner, putting Barcelona firmly in control.

‎Dying Minutes

‎Ferran Torres added the finishing touch to a stellar performance, completing the scoring and matching the earlier scoreline from their encounter in September. He received a squared ball from Gerard Martin, controlled it effortlessly, and slotted it low past Gazzaniga, sealing the 4-1 victory.

‎Barcelona’s ability to finish off the game reflected their status as title contenders as they entered April, eyeing their 28th La Liga title.

‎Girona’s Struggles

‎On the flip side, Girona left the pitch feeling deflated. This defeat marked their inability to secure a win in their last 11 away fixtures across all competitions (with D2, L8), showing the challenges they face as they navigate through the league.