At first worrying then unconvincing, FC Barcelona, led from the 18th second of play by Alavés, ended up winning on Sunday (2-1) thanks to a double from Robert Lewandowski during the 13th day of Liga, for avoid plunging into crisis. A victory that is worth gold for the Catalans, who had two defeats in their last three meetings, including a humiliating setback against Shakhtar Donetsk (1-0) on Wednesday in the Champions League. It allows Barcelona, provisionally third before Atlético Madrid’s match against Villarreal on Sunday (9:00 p.m.), to come back to within two points of Real Madrid and four of its Catalan neighbor Girona, still in the lead.
Before the match against the promoted Basque, FC Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez refused to speak of “a crisis”, but the nightmarish start to the match of his players only confirmed the doubts. Barça was air-conditioned from the 18th second of play, conceding a goal in the first 20 seconds for the second time this season following a loss of the ball by Gündogan. Found in the area, the young Spanish striker Samu Omorodion, 19, opened the scoring by winning at the near post in front of Iñigo Martinez (1-0).
Loaned by Atlético Madrid, who recruited him in August after the first day of La Liga where he scored on his first professional start with Granada, the 1m94 colossus created hell for the Catalan defense. Dominant in the air and inspired in his movements, Samu could have scored a hat-trick or even a quadruplet but missed three opportunities to increase the score (9th, 14th, 31st).
Faced with the power of the Spanish international hopeful, the excitement of Jules Koundé pushed Xavi to change his system by placing Araujo, more solid in duels, in central defense. Without solutions in attack despite the return to the eleven of their prodigy Pedri, the Catalans tried to respond with Lewandowski (17th) and Joao Félix (23rd), who came up against the Spanish goalkeeper Antonio Sivera.
The Blaugrana returned to the locker room under the whistles of the Montjuic Olympic stadium, before relaunching at the start of the second half thanks to a headed goal from Robert Lewandowski on a perfect cross from Koundé (53rd, 1-1). Xavi, whose initial lineup was far from convincing, then threw on Raphinha, Ferran Torres and Balde to try to take the lead.
And his coaching was a winner, Ferran Torres obtaining a penalty for a foul by Abqar, transformed by Lewandowski, who delivered the Barcelonans with his first two goals since September (78th, 2-1). It will take a lot more after the international break for Barcelona to retain their title.
