Robert Lewandowski scored his a hundredth Champions League aim as Barcelona beat Brest 3-0 to climb provisionally second within the Champions League group standings on Tuesday. The veteran striker slotted residence from the spot within the tenth minute to fireplace the Catalans forward and attain his milestone, including a second late on after Dani Olmo’s aim to inflict the French facet’s first defeat. After dropping factors of their final two outings in La Liga, coach Hansi Flick had urged his gamers to “remove” errors of their sport and Barca produced a stable show.
They obtained off the mark rapidly when Brest goalkeeper Marco Bizot clumsily clattered into the again of Lewandowski after the ahead managed Pedri’s cross on his chest.
The striker dusted himself down and dispatched the penalty clinically to open the scoring after 10 minutes and convey up his century.
It made Lewandowski solely the third participant to achieve that milestone within the competitors, behind former Barcelona nice Lionel Messi, on 129, and former Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo, with 140.
Under Flick, the ahead’s type has improved considerably this season, reaching 22 objectives in 19 appearances between La Liga and the Champions League.
The 36-year-old has made 125 Champions League appearances with Barcelona and earlier than that German sides Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich.
“I’m very pleased, a few years in the past I didn’t suppose I may rating greater than 100 objectives within the Champions League,” Lewandowski informed Movistar.
“For me a very powerful factor is that we attempt to win each sport, if I can rating, then that is the right answer.
“I do not know what number of video games we’ve got left earlier than the tip of the 12 months however we’ve got to win all of them and relaxation over Christmas.”
Barcelona had been nonetheless with out teenage star Lamine Yamal, recovering from an ankle downside, however Raphinha was busy on the suitable and the Catalans dominated proceedings.
They didn’t create many clear probabilities although till Fermin Lopez compelled a advantageous save from Bizot with a diving header.
The Dutch goalkeeper made amends for his earlier mistake by denying the Spaniard together with his leg.
Olmo heading in the right direction
Lopez once more got here shut early within the second half when Lewandowski put him in with a neat flick however Bizot was alert to save lots of his low effort.
Playmaker Olmo had an effort scrambled off the road by Brendan Chardonnet as Barcelona sought to place the sport to mattress.
The former RB Leipzig midfielder ultimately grabbed the second within the 66th minute when he acquired Gerard Martin’s go within the field, displaying some nifty footwork to dodge Chardonnet and beat Bizot on the close to submit.
Brest thumped RB Salzburg 4-0 and had dropped simply two factors from their first 4 matches regardless of sitting in mid-table in Ligue 1, however had been introduced all the way down to earth on the Olympic Stadium.
Mathias Pereira Lage drilled residence to momentarily delight almost 3,000 travelling supporters however their pleasure was curtailed when the linesman raised his flag for offside.
Barca substitute Pablo Torre ought to have netted Barcelona’s third when he intercepted a go with simply the goalkeeper to beat, however fired vast.
Instead the job fell to Lewandowski and he rolled residence his a hundred and first Champions League aim with aplomb, past Bizot’s outstretched arm.
Brest fall just a few locations down the desk however their sturdy begin to the marketing campaign means they’re nicely positioned to safe at the least a play-off spot, whereas Barcelona are aiming to achieve the final 16 instantly.
Flick’s facet journey to final season’s runners-up Borussia Dortmund subsequent, earlier than visiting Benfica and internet hosting Atalanta.
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