After defeating Elche at Spotify Camp Nou on Saturday afternoon with a score of 3-0, Barcelona ascended to the top of the La Liga standings.
After losing to Bayern Munich in the middle of the week, the Blaugrana wanted to respond strongly, and that’s exactly what they accomplished. Robert Lewandowski gave Barça the lead in the 34th minute after the visitors had an early man sent off.
After Memphis Depay extended Barcelona’s lead to 2-0 a little more than five minutes later, the game was effectively over. Lewandowski then added a third goal early in the second half to end the game and give his team the three points.
As a result, Barcelona has gone the longest home streak in the top division without losing, going 23 La Liga games versus Elche without suffering a loss (W16 D7) at Spotify Camp Nou.
For the first time since 2010–11, Barcelona has now won five straight La Liga games by a score of three goals or more. In addition, Barça under Xavi have tied the club record for the most straight victories in La Liga by three goals or more.
With five straight victories in 2010, Pep Guardiola’s all-powerful Barcelona team set the record. The accomplishment would later be repeated by the same team in 2011. And right now, Xavi’s team has tied the record.
Lewandowski was Barcelona’s main attacking force once more as he added a second pair of goals. The Poland captain’s double made him the first Barça player to ever score three Liga braces after turning 34.
Lewandowski and Lionel Messi are the only two players this season in the top five European leagues to have two G+A contributions in four different games.
Alejandro Balde was another player who made a big impression that afternoon, and Xavi praised the youngster after the game.
On Saturday, the 18-year-old provided assists on both Depay’s goal and Lewandowski’s opening goal. Balde now shares the top assist spot in La Liga for the current campaign (3).
Additionally, in the current season, Balde is the only player under the age of 19 to contribute three assists in the top five leagues in Europe.
