Lewandowski strikes twice as Barcelona beat Girona to take LaLiga lead
Barcelona vs Girona
Barcelona’s emphatic 4-1 triumph over Girona in the Catalan derby on Sunday was a showcase of their dominance, driven by the evergreen Robert Lewandowski, whose second-half brace propelled Hansi Flick’s side three points clear of Real Madrid at the summit of LaLiga. The match, played under the vibrant atmosphere of a packed stadium, underscored Barcelona’s relentless form this season, as they amassed 66 points from 29 games. Lewandowski, at 36, continues to defy the skeptics who question his longevity, adding two more goals to his tally after the score was knotted at 1-1, bringing his league-leading total to 25—three ahead of Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé. His performance was a testament to his enduring quality, blending physical prowess with clinical finishing, and his post-match comments radiated confidence and defiance. “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,” he said, a broad smile breaking across his face as he addressed the press. “At the moment I’m feeling great physically and if you look at the numbers, they’re the same as they’ve always been.” This victory wasn’t just a statistical milestone; it was a statement of intent from a Barcelona side that has found its rhythm under Flick’s stewardship. From the opening whistle, they dictated the tempo, with Fermín López and Lewandowski testing Girona’s Paulo Gazzaniga early on, setting the tone for a match that would see Barcelona’s attacking machinery in full flow. The Catalan giants’ ability to turn pressure into goals, even after a brief scare from Girona, highlighted their resilience and depth, qualities that have defined their campaign thus far. As the season progresses, this win could prove to be a pivotal moment, not just in the title race but in cementing Lewandowski’s legacy as one of the game’s greats, a player whose hunger for success remains unquenched despite the years piling on.
The first half was a tale of Barcelona’s dominance tempered by Girona’s stubborn resistance, with the home side predictably seizing control from the outset. Fermín López, a rising star in Barcelona’s midfield, combined with Lewandowski to pepper Gazzaniga’s goal with two sharp efforts within the opening minutes, signaling their intent to overwhelm their regional rivals. Yet, the game wasn’t without its controversies—moments after those early chances, López tumbled on the edge of Girona’s penalty area, prompting the referee to award a free kick. The decision seemed straightforward until VAR intervened, urging a second look that flipped the call in Girona’s favor, leaving Barcelona’s players visibly stunned and the crowd roaring in disbelief. It was a fleeting reprieve for Girona, though, as Barcelona’s pressure continued unabated. Jules Koundé thought he’d broken the deadlock, only for his effort to be chalked off for offside—a decision that underscored Girona’s precarious position as Barcelona swarmed their box with relentless forays. Gazzaniga, however, emerged as the visitors’ unlikely hero in the first 45 minutes, pulling off four critical saves to keep his side in the contest. His agility and anticipation thwarted Barcelona time and again, turning away shots that seemed destined for the net. But even Gazzaniga’s heroics couldn’t hold forever—two minutes before the break, Lamine Yamal’s expertly struck free kick took a wicked deflection off Girona’s Ladislav Krejcí, wrong-footing the keeper and nestling into the net for an own goal. It was a cruel blow for Girona, who had weathered a storm only to falter at the last, and it handed Barcelona a lead that felt both deserved and inevitable given the balance of play. The first half encapsulated the match’s broader narrative: Barcelona’s attacking verve pitted against Girona’s dogged defiance, with the former’s quality ultimately tipping the scales in a moment of misfortune for the visitors.
The second half began with a twist that briefly threatened to upend Barcelona’s control, as Girona, against the run of play, clawed their way back into the contest. The equalizer came shortly after the restart, sparked by a rare midfield turnover that Girona pounced on with ruthless efficiency. Dutch forward Arnaut Danjuma, a constant menace despite limited possession, seized the moment, curling a sublime shot past Wojciech Szczesny in Barcelona’s goal to level the score at 1-1. It was a strike of pure quality, bending beyond Szczesny’s reach and igniting a flicker of hope among the Girona faithful who’d made the short trip. For a fleeting moment, it seemed the visitors might capitalize on their momentum, with Danjuma’s goal exposing a rare lapse in Barcelona’s otherwise ironclad structure. “After I scored, I thought we could take something from the game, we could pressure them a little bit more,” Danjuma reflected afterward, his words tinged with a mix of pride and regret. But Barcelona’s response was swift and decisive, a mark of a team unshaken by adversity. Just past the hour mark, they restored their lead with a goal that showcased their attacking synergy—López drifted into space, nodding a precise ball across the box, where Lewandowski met it with an acrobatic finish at the far post. The strike was vintage Lewandowski: instinctive, athletic, and lethal, silencing any doubts about his physical decline. The Camp Nou erupted, sensing the tide turning irrevocably in their favor. Girona’s resistance began to crumble as Barcelona’s confidence swelled, their interplay growing sharper with each passing minute. The second goal was a hammer blow, but it was merely the precursor to a late onslaught that would leave Girona reeling and Barcelona’s supremacy unquestioned.
Lewandowski wasn’t done yet, and his second of the night in the 77th minute cemented Barcelona’s dominance while further burnishing his own remarkable season. The goal came from a lightning-quick counter-attack, orchestrated by Frenkie de Jong, whose vision and composure in midfield have been vital to Barcelona’s resurgence under Flick. De Jong spotted Lewandowski’s run and threaded a pinpoint pass into the box, where the Polish striker took a touch before curling a low shot past Gazzaniga, who could only watch as it nestled into the far corner. It was a finish of exquisite precision, the kind that has defined Lewandowski’s career, and it pushed the score to 3-1, effectively killing off Girona’s hopes. The Camp Nou faithful roared their approval, their talisman delivering yet again in a match that demanded his brilliance. Not content to rest on their laurels, Barcelona piled on the pressure, and substitute Ferran Torres added a fourth with a moment of individual magic—controlling a lofted pass from the wing with a velvet touch before rifling a shot into the bottom corner. It was a goal that oozed class, a reward for Torres’s patience off the bench and a reflection of Barcelona’s depth. Lamine Yamal nearly made it five, his curling effort crashing off the crossbar in a late flourish that epitomized the hosts’ relentless ambition. Girona, by this point, were a spent force, their early defiance a distant memory as Barcelona’s superior quality and ruthlessness took its toll. “It’s very clear to see that when they had the ball this afternoon, it wasn’t easy for us,” Danjuma admitted, his tone resigned. “We knew we were up against a great team... but then they got their second, they got their third... and then it became very difficult.” His words captured the sinking feeling of a side outclassed, a sentiment echoed across Girona’s ranks as they trudged off the pitch, battered by a Barcelona team firing on all cylinders.
This 4-1 demolition was more than just a derby win—it was a microcosm of Barcelona’s season, blending youthful exuberance with seasoned excellence, all underpinned by a tactical clarity that has made them LaLiga’s pacesetters. Lewandowski’s brace was the headline, his 25 goals now a towering benchmark in the scoring charts, but the contributions of López, De Jong, Torres, and Yamal painted a broader picture of a squad in harmony. For Girona, the loss stung, a reminder of the gulf that still separates them from Catalonia’s giants despite their spirited moments. Hansi Flick’s influence was palpable throughout, his side’s ability to regroup after Danjuma’s equalizer and then overwhelm their opponents a testament to his tactical acumen. As Barcelona sit atop the table with 66 points, three clear of Real Madrid, the road ahead looks promising, though the season’s twists remain unwritten. Lewandowski, at 36, continues to lead the charge, his defiance of age a rallying cry for a team chasing glory. For fans, this match was a feast of footballing prowess, a derby that delivered drama, quality, and a resounding victory—one that will linger in the memory as a high point in a campaign brimming with potential.
