Barcelona went top of LaLiga ahead of Real Madrid after a commanding performance against Elche, who went down to 10 men after Gonzalo Verdu received a red in the 14th minute.
– Report: Barca 3-0 Elche | LaLiga table | Upcoming fixtures
Robert Lewandowski scored a brace, with Memphis Depay also getting on the score sheet and netting his first of the season. Verdu’s red card prevented a goal-scoring opportunity for Lewandowski, who was through on goal had it not been for Verdu’s lunging challenge from behind. Elche were thoroughly shut out and did not manage to get a shot on target the whole match.
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Rapid Reaction
1. Lewandowski is Barca’s main man
Barcelona bounced back from defeat to Bayern Munich in midweek with another resounding victory in LaLiga. They have now scored three or more goals in five consecutive league games for the first time since the 2017/18 season.
A large part of that is down to Lewandowski, whose brace against Elche took his tally for the season to 11 in all competitions. The Poland striker also becomes the first Barca player other than Lionel Messi to score in five straight LaLiga matches since Luis Suarez, which scored in eight in a row during the 2017-18 campaign.
In just two months, Lewandowski has already established himself as the leader of this Barca side. Coach Xavi Hernandez purrs about his influence on the other players, the advice he gives to the young players and the way he conducts himself on a daily basis. His goals obviously help, too. That is now 10 or more club goals in all competitions for a 12th straight season. His latest brace takes Barca to the top of LaLiga, pending how Real Madrid get on against Atletico Madrid in Sunday’s derby.
