Robert Lewandowski Powers Barcelona To Victory Over Deportivo Alaves

Barcelona secured a convincing 3-0 victory against Deportivo Alaves in the Basque Country, extending their unbeaten streak against the club to an impressive 15 games.

The match saw Robert Lewandowski shine brightly, scoring a first-half hat-trick that showed his striking qualities and also reaffirmed Barcelona’s determination to reclaim their position at the top of La Liga.

Coming off a disappointing defeat against Osasuna in their previous La Liga outing, Hansi Flick’s Barcelona side appeared to be buoyed by a midweek UEFA Champions League win against Young Boys.

Lewandowski Leads the Charge

Barcelona started the match with high energy, and an early goal seemed imminent. Lamine Yamal and Raphinha displayed excellent synergy, combining brilliantly for what looked like the opening goal, only for it to be ruled out for offside.

However, their persistence paid off as Lewandowski found the net soon after, heading home a beautifully whipped free-kick from Raphinha. This set the tone for what was to become a memorable evening for the Polish striker.

Just 15 minutes after his opener, Lewandowski struck again, this time tapping in a squared ball from Raphinha after superb build-up play from the visitors. Raphinha’s revitalized performance was crucial, as he consistently troubled the Alaves defense, creating opportunities for his teammates.

Lewandowski completed his hat-trick in style, skillfully managing to squeeze the ball past Alaves goalkeeper Antonio Sivera from a tight angle. This marked his first half-trick since March 2022, an indicator of the striker’s returning form just when Barcelona needed it most.

Despite being on the back foot for most of the first half, Deportivo Alaves did see a glimmer of hope just before the break when they had a goal disallowed for offside.

However, it was clear that the hosts struggled to find their footing against a Barcelona side that was determined to impose their authority on the match.

Second Half Barcelona Dominates

With a commanding 3-0 lead at halftime, Barcelona entered the second half in cruise control. They maintained a staggering 70% possession throughout the match, demonstrating their ability to control the tempo and flow of the game. Alaves attempted to respond, but their efforts were consistently stopped as they failed to pose any significant threat to Barcelona’s defense.

Luis García, the Alaves manager, recognized the need for change and made several tactical substitutions in an attempt to inject life into his side. Unfortunately for the home supporters, these changes had little impact as Barcelona continued to dictate play, seamlessly moving the ball around and frustrating the Alaves players.

The latter stages of the match saw Barcelona content to maintain their lead, leisurely passing the ball across the midfield while Alaves tirelessly chased shadows.