Lewandowski’s Late Strike Secures 2-1 Win for Barcelona Against Athletic Bilbao
Barcelona maintained their perfect start to the La Liga season with a 2-1 win over Athletic Bilbao at the Montjuïc Olympic Stadium on Saturday evening. Despite dominating the match from start to finish, the Blaugrana required a late goal from Robert Lewandowski to seal the three points in their home opener and continue their strong beginning under Hansi Flick.
First Half
Barcelona asserted their dominance early, showcasing a vibrant attacking style with precise passing and intelligent movement in the final third. Marc Bernal and Pedri formed a solid double pivot, driving the team's play, while Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, and Ferran Torres provided crucial support to Lewandowski. Despite their control, Barcelona struggled to break down Athletic Bilbao's resolute defense.
The breakthrough came midway through the first half when Yamal, seizing a rebound from a free-kick clearance, unleashed a stunning strike that deflected off Iñigo Lekue into the net. Barcelona nearly doubled their lead soon after, but Lewandowski’s effort hit the post.
Athletic Bilbao's fortunes changed when a VAR review awarded them a penalty for a challenge on Álex Berenguer by Pau Cubarsí. Oihan Sancet converted the spot kick just before halftime, leveling the score and sending the teams into the break with the game still in the balance.
Second Half
The second half saw Barcelona continue their dominance, with Lewandowski hitting the post yet again from a header and later being denied by a spectacular save from Álex Padilla. As the match progressed, Barcelona’s pressure intensified, and Fermín López’s introduction added fresh impetus.
Despite a few attempts from Nico Williams, Athletic Bilbao struggled to pose a real threat, content to secure a point. The breakthrough came in the 75th minute when Raphinha’s precise pass found Pedri in the box. Pedri’s deflected cross fell perfectly for Lewandowski, who finally beat Padilla with a powerful shot to give Barcelona the lead.
Athletic Bilbao had a brief window to salvage a point, but Barcelona’s defense, led by Marc-André ter Stegen, held firm to secure the victory. The match concluded with Barcelona maintaining their narrow lead and collecting all three points.
Match Reflection
Barcelona's performance was a strong display of their attacking capabilities and defensive solidity, though they could have converted more of their chances. The team showed improvement from their previous game against Valencia, with a more fluid attack and better-organized defense.
While missed opportunities were a minor setback, the overall team performance was commendable. With the season still young, Barcelona's ability to secure victories, even in tight matches, bodes well for their title aspirations.
Team Line-Ups
Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Kounde, Cubarsí, Iñigo, Balde (Martín 90+1’); Bernal (Eric 83’), Pedri; Yamal (Víctor 90+1’), Raphinha, Ferran (Fermín 63’); Lewandowski
Goals: Yamal (24’), Lewandowski (75’)
Athletic Bilbao: Padilla; Lekue, Vivian, Yeray, Yuri; Prados (Herrera 78’), Vesga (Jauregizar 63’); Berenguer (Ares 72’), Sancet (Unai 62’), N. Williams; I. Williams (Guruzeta 78’)
Goal: Sancet (pen 42’)
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