By The Respondent Reporter
Barcelona delivered a statement victory in the Catalan derby, overpowering Girona 4-1 at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Sunday.
A second-half brace from Robert Lewandowski helped propel Hansi Flick’s side three points clear at the top of LaLiga, ahead of rivals Real Madrid.
With the score level at 1-1 after an intense opening hour, the 36-year-old Polish striker showcased his clinical finishing, extending his tally as LaLiga’s top scorer to 25 goals, three ahead of Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe.
“I know a lot of people talk about my age, but I work as hard as I did when I was 21, and I want to play for more seasons,” Lewandowski said with a smile after the match.
The veteran forward put Barcelona ahead in the 72nd minute with a powerful finish, before sealing his brace just five minutes later. A swift counterattack orchestrated by Frenkie de Jong saw Lewandowski receive the ball inside the box, where he curled a low shot past Girona goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga.
Ferran Torres then capped off Barcelona’s emphatic win, expertly controlling a cross from the wing with a sublime first touch before slotting the ball into the bottom corner.
The hosts nearly made it five when young sensation Lamine Yamal saw his curling effort rattle off the crossbar.
Girona forward Arnaut Danjuma acknowledged the challenge of facing a high-flying Barcelona side.
“It’s very clear to see that when they had the ball this afternoon, it wasn’t easy for us. We knew we were up against a great team,” Danjuma admitted post-match.
Barcelona’s midfield maestro, Pedri, was instrumental in the team’s buildup play, controlling possession and putting in a stellar defensive shift when needed.
The Spanish international earned a match rating of 8.5, alongside Torres, de Jong, Yamal, and Erick Garcia, all of whom were outstanding with an 8.0 rating. With this dominant win, Barcelona reasserts their title credentials as they continues its pursuit of LaLiga glory.
