Robert Lewandowski’s second-half strike helped Barcelona beat Alaves 1-0 on Sunday to chop the hole on La Liga leaders Real Madrid right down to 4 factors. The Catalans, third, capitalised with a slender victory after the champions slipped up throughout city at Espanyol on Saturday. Barcelona path second place Atletico by three factors earlier than the Rojiblancos face Real Madrid in a tasty derby conflict subsequent weekend, which may permit Hansi Flick’s facet to make up extra floor.
Lewandowski netted from a Lamine Yamal cross to settle a hard-fought match wherein Alaves largely annoyed the hosts.
“Before the sport we knew we needed to win,” Lewandowski informed Movistar. “For us it is a second wherein we’ve got much less factors than Atletico and Real Madrid, (however) first it is necessary that we win and later we are able to take into consideration their factors.
“We need to play effectively, win after which we are able to have a look at the league desk and see what number of factors we’ve got precisely.”
Flick’s staff struggled to get going within the early afternoon daylight on the Olympic stadium.
The Catalans created barely something of be aware within the first half as Alaves resisted stubbornly.
One mazy Lamine Yamal dribble bought dwelling followers excited however there was little else to boost the heartbeat.
Gavi and Tomas Conechny had been each taken off after an unpleasant collision of heads.
– ‘Patience’ pays –
Lewandowski scuffed a shot narrowly extensive and a low Pedri effort was comfortably fielded by Alaves goalkeeper Jesus Owono.
Flick introduced on Frenkie de Jong and Eric Garcia at half-time to attempt to velocity up Barcelona’s sport in possession and the staff appeared sharper consequently.
Lewandowski despatched a glancing header agonisingly extensive of the far publish quickly earlier than he broke the impasse.
The veteran Polish ahead produced a poacher’s end from shut vary after Yamal despatched a cross-shot spinning in direction of him on the again publish after 61 minutes.
It was Lewandowski’s 18th objective of the league marketing campaign, stretching his lead on Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe because the division’s high scorer to a few.
“A sport like right this moment is essential,” mentioned Lewandowski.
“We cannot all the time win with 4, 5 or 6 targets, typically groups like this come alongside who defend deep and effectively, however we’ve got an opportunity if we play with endurance, and in the long run we scored another objective than them so we’re very glad.”
Barca substitute Ferran Torres’s curling effort was pushed away by Owono at full stretch because the Catalans tried to make the sport secure.
Flick’s staff couldn’t produce a second however Alaves, who barely threatened Wojciech Szczesny’s objective all through, weren’t capable of mount a comeback.
Later Sunday fourth-place Athletic Bilbao go to Real Betis amongst different matches.
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