Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha struck twice every as La Liga leaders Barcelona romped to a 5-1 win at Villarreal on Sunday however had been left fearing a “enormous” knee damage to goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen. Atletico Madrid, fourth, had been held to a 1-1 draw at metropolis rivals Rayo Vallecano as Conor Gallagher netted his second aim for the Rojiblancos. Barcelona’s sixth league triumph in six video games was marred by Ter Stegen being taken off on a stretcher after falling awkwardly having collected a cross, with early stories suggesting he might miss the remainder of the season.
“I feel it is going to be an enormous damage, when he laid down on the sector… you possibly can see it instantly,” Barcelona coach Hansi Flick advised DAZN.
Lewandowski netted Barcelona’s first two targets and later missed a penalty in a completely entertaining battle on Spain’s east coast at Villarreal’s Estadio de la Ceramica.
Ayoze Perez pulled his crew again into the sport shortly earlier than half-time and the beforehand unbeaten hosts had two targets disallowed, with Pablo Torre and Raphinha’s strikes cementing Barcelona’s victory.
After second-placed Real Madrid thrashed Espanyol 4-1 on Saturday the Catalans had been capable of restore a four-point lead on the champions.
“It’s essential for us that we performed a sport away from residence, we scored 5 targets and in the long run we’ve three factors,” mentioned Lewandowski.
“In the tip it would not matter how, so long as we win that is excellent.”
Flick gave Eric Garcia one other begin in defensive midfield regardless of his early pink card towards Monaco within the Champions League midweek defeat.
The German coach additionally began reserve crew gamers Gerard Martin and Sergi Dominguez, in addition to playmaker Torre rather than the injured Dani Olmo.
Teenage star Lamine Yamal hit the publish early on earlier than Lewandowski slotted residence within the twentieth minute after Torre slipped him in.
Villarreal goalkeeper Diego Conde did effectively to maintain out a bundled effort from the Polish striker however Lewandowski pounced after 35 minutes for his second.
Conde saved Garcia’s header effectively however the former Bayern Munich hitman transformed the rebound with an acrobatic end from shut vary.
It was his sixth La Liga aim of the season, taking him two away from Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe in Spain’s golden boot race.
‘Special individual’
Villarreal had been regularly threatening on the counter and Perez gave them a lifeline after the electrical Nicolas Pepe set him up.
Ter Stegen thwarted Pepe with a sensational save one-on-one earlier than half-time however the German Barca captain was quickly stricken as he fell badly after catching a nook earlier than the break and was changed by Inaki Pena.
Pepe completed brilliantly early within the second half however his effort was disallowed for a marginal offside name, and Yeremy Pino hit the bar with a header as Marcelino Garcia Toral’s facet drove Barcelona again.
Torre prolonged Barca’s lead with a deflected strike from the sting of the field, a killer blow given Villarreal’s momentum.
Lewandowski hit the publish from the spot after Eric Bailly scythed down Yamal and Villarreal’s Thierno Barry had a aim dominated out for offside.
Raphinha ended any hopes of a house comeback, first with a deflected shot after which ending after an outstanding Yamal move left him with simply Conde to beat.
“(Ter Stegen) is a really particular and vital individual within the dressing room, this victory is 100% for him,” Raphinha advised DAZN.
Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois wrote Ter Stegen a message on social media platform X.
“It harm me lots to see you permit the pitch like that,” wrote the Belgian stopper.
“I hope you possibly can get well quickly and we see you once more in aim.”
In a Madrid derby conflict Diego Simeone’s unbeaten Atletico couldn’t discover a well beyond Rayo Vallecano.
Rayo’s Isi Palazon slammed residence from shut vary after 35 minutes and the aim was ultimately given after initially being dominated offside.
However Gallagher completed neatly from the sting of the field early within the second half when Alexander Sorloth fed the England worldwide.
“(At half-time Simeone) advised us all of us needed to run, as of late anybody who will not be operating right here can not play,” Atletico captain Koke advised Movistar.
“We had possibilities to get the winner however it wasn’t to be.”
Athletic Bilbao overtook Atletico to maneuver into third with a 3-1 win towards Celta Vigo.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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