VALENCIA: Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski scored a 93rd-minute winner as they beat Valence 1-0 on Saturday to take the provisional first place in points with Real Madrid in La Liga.
As the game headed for what appeared to be a goalless draw, Barca’s Raphinha curled a cross into the box which was stabbed in acrobatic fashion by a stretching Lewandowski for the 13th league goal of the season of the Polish striker.
The result means Barca have 31 points after 12 games, the same as Real who host Girona on Sunday.
Barcelona created plenty of chances in the first half but Valencia’s full-back held firm, with goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili denying Ansu Fati while Lewandowski also saw a header come off the post.
The home side suffered a blow with 18 minutes on the clock when their top scorer Edinson Cavani, who had scored all four goals for the club in their last three games, suffered an ankle injury.
Valencia’s Samuel Lino thought he had opened the scoring four minutes into the second half and the Mestalla crowd erupted, but the referee pushed him away after a VAR check as Marcos Andre hit the cross with his hand.
Barca’s Ferran Torres had a magnificent chance to score against his former club but he failed to make good contact with the ball from a few yards out. However, Lewandowski’s goal a few minutes later secured the three points for Xavi Hernandez’s side.
As the game headed for what appeared to be a goalless draw, Barca’s Raphinha curled a cross into the box which was stabbed in acrobatic fashion by a stretching Lewandowski for the 13th league goal of the season of the Polish striker.
The result means Barca have 31 points after 12 games, the same as Real who host Girona on Sunday.
Barcelona created plenty of chances in the first half but Valencia’s full-back held firm, with goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili denying Ansu Fati while Lewandowski also saw a header come off the post.
The home side suffered a blow with 18 minutes on the clock when their top scorer Edinson Cavani, who had scored all four goals for the club in their last three games, suffered an ankle injury.
Valencia’s Samuel Lino thought he had opened the scoring four minutes into the second half and the Mestalla crowd erupted, but the referee pushed him away after a VAR check as Marcos Andre hit the cross with his hand.
Barca’s Ferran Torres had a magnificent chance to score against his former club but he failed to make good contact with the ball from a few yards out. However, Lewandowski’s goal a few minutes later secured the three points for Xavi Hernandez’s side.
