Robert Lewandowski scored twice as leaders Barcelona gained 4-0 at backside facet Elche on Saturday to go provisionally 15 factors away from second-placed Actual Madrid on the prime of LaLiga.
Whereas the Catalan facet took one other step in the direction of their twenty seventh LaLiga title, Actual will search for a win towards Valladolid on Sunday to maintain their slim hopes alive.
LaLiga prime scorer Lewandowski acquired again on purpose path after three goalless league video games, opening the scoring within the twentieth minute with a close-range end after Ronald Araujo headed the ball right down to him in entrance of purpose.
Ansu Fati doubled the lead within the fifty fifth minute after choosing up a Ferran Torres move in his personal half and breaking ahead in the direction of the sting of the field earlier than firing low into the far nook to attain within the league for the primary time since October.
Barcelona’s trademark excessive urgent paid off within the sixty fifth minute when Gavi stole the ball off the Elche defence to arrange Lewandowski within the field, who had no bother scoring his second of the night time and seventeenth league purpose of the season.
Torres acquired on the scoresheet within the Seventieth-minute, slotting his shot into the left nook for his third league purpose of the marketing campaign in a recreation the place the remainder of the squad stepped up within the absence of key gamers corresponding to Ousmane Dembele, Pedri, Raphinha and Frenkie De Jong.
“It has been excellent: two from Robert, one from Ferran and one from Ansu. An excellent night time for the forwards and gamers who wanted and gained a variety of confidence,” Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez advised reporters.
“We confirmed that we’re a unit, and regardless of who performs, everybody delivers.”
Barcelona will face bitter rivals Actual Madrid for the fourth time in 2023 on Wednesday within the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final, the place they maintain a 1-0 lead.
Elche are getting ready to relegation with 13 factors from 27 video games, 14 factors adrift of the protection zone.
This story has been printed from a wire company feed with out modifications to the textual content.