Robert Lewandowski treble fires Barcelona to victory over Valencia football news

Robert Lewandowski scored a second-half hat-trick to give Barcelona an entertaining 4-2 win over 10-man Valencia in La Liga on Monday. The champions’ victory denied leaders Real Madrid the chance to clinch the crown by beating Cadiz next Saturday. Los Blancos are 11 points ahead of Barcelona with five matches remaining. Fermín López sent the hosts ahead before Valencia striker Hugo Duro equalized and Pepelu turned the game around with a goal from the spot. Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili was sent off for handball late in the first half and Lewandowski equalized shortly after the break and added two more late on.

It rained all day in drought-stricken Barcelona and the Olympic Stadium, which holds 30,000, was half empty due to the threat of getting drenched.

The small crowd may also have been a reaction to last weekend’s Clasico defeat, which rolled out the red carpet for Real Madrid to clinch Barcelona’s title, as well as the hated Monday night slot.

La Liga rescheduled the game with just a week’s notice, meaning many will no longer be able to attend.

Those in attendance enjoyed a surprisingly entertaining clash, with Barca winning in his first match since coach Xavi Hernandez decided to remain in charge next season.

“I think the team performed well… We lacked calmness and stability, but I am satisfied with the attitude of the team,” Xavi told DAZN.

The best of the early chances was created by visiting visitors Valencia, seeking eighth place and European football next season.

Hugo Duro’s close ball was saved by Marc-André ter Stegen. On-loan Real Madrid winger Peter Federico pulled a shot wide as he headed towards goal.

Barcelona took the lead when Lopez headed in Raphinha’s whipped cross.

Valencia soon equalized after a serious mistake by Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who ran out of his box to try to stop a long ball.

He got there first but his attempt to loft the ball over Duro’s head was thwarted as the striker controlled the ball and stopped Ronald Araújo to deflect the ball.

main errors

Things quickly turned sour for Barcelona as Araújo – who had just suffered a Champions League quarter-final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain – foolishly gave away a penalty to Federico. Valencia midfielder Pepelu put Los Che ahead with a penalty in the middle.

Shortly before the break, a mistake by the Valencia goalkeeper turned the game towards Barcelona.

Mamardashvili miscontrolled the ball on the edge of his own box, passing it to teenager Lamin Yamal.

As the youngster tried to round the goalkeeper, the Georgian touched the ball with his hand outside the area and, after a VAR review, was out.

Substitute Jaume Domenech saved Raphinha’s free-kick, but could not prevent Barcelona’s equalizing goal early in the second half.

Lewandowski scored from a corner to begin Barcelona’s comeback.

The game was a shambles from start to finish, with Domenech making a brilliant save from Araújo’s header and Barca substitute Pedri making a last-ditch effort to deny Diego Lopez from striking.

Eventually, when Araujo’s header from a corner fell into his path, Lewandowski fired from close range to give Barcelona the lead.

The Polish international completed his treble with a well-taken free-kick in stoppage time, his 16th league goal of the season.

“In the first half, we didn’t have much space to attack, but the most important thing is that if you lose one or two goals, we can always score three or four goals,” Lewandowski told DAZN.

“If we score a lot of goals, it becomes a lot easier for everyone.”

Barcelona’s victory moved them two points ahead of third-placed neighbors Verona, who they visit next Saturday.

The smaller teams are chasing Champions League qualification, which they can achieve with a win, which could also give Madrid the title.

“It will be a great game, two teams looking to attack,” said Xavi, whose side lost 4-2 at home to Verona in December.

“It will be a magnificent spectacle, like the one we saw at Montjuic.”

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)