La Liga: Barcelona Regain Lead with Dominant Win Over Girona

La Liga: Lewandowski Brace Leads Barcelona to 4-1 Victory Over Girona, Extends League Lead

Barcelona delivered a dominant performance at the Olympic Stadium on Sunday, securing a 4-1 victory over Girona to move three points clear at the top of La Liga. Robert Lewandowski played a pivotal role, scoring twice to maintain his lead in the race for the Pichichi Trophy (La Liga's top scorer award).

Barcelona Restore Three-Point Lead at the Top

• Second-placed Real Madrid had briefly drawn level on points with Barcelona on Saturday after securing a victory over Leganés.

• However, Barcelona responded emphatically on Sunday, reclaiming their three-point cushion at the summit.

• Lewandowski matched Kylian Mbappé’s double, ensuring he stayed ahead of the Madrid striker in the goal-scoring charts.

Match Highlights: Barcelona’s Offensive Display

1. First-Half Domination & Krejci’s Own Goal

   • Barcelona controlled possession from the outset, with Lamine Yamal and Fermin Lopez providing attacking thrust.

   • Girona’s defensive resistance was broken just before halftime when Ladislav Krejci inadvertently turned a Yamal free-kick into his own net, giving Barcelona a 1-0 lead.

   • Goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga had earlier produced a stunning save to deny Ronald Araújo’s header.

2. Danjuma’s Equalizer Sparks Barcelona’s Response

   • Girona, despite a lackluster first half, found an equalizer eight minutes after the restart.

   • Dutch forward Arnaut Danjuma latched onto Daley Blind’s pass, slotting a low finish past Wojciech Szczęsny to make it 1-1.

3. Lewandowski Steps Up with a Brace

   • Barcelona quickly regained their advantage through La Liga’s top scorer Robert Lewandowski, who netted his 24th goal of the season.

   • Fermin Lopez nodded the ball into Lewandowski’s path, and the Polish striker adjusted his body to guide it between Gazzaniga’s legs, making it 2-1.

   • The forward struck again for his 25th goal, after being played through by substitute Frenkie de Jong, effectively securing the win at 3-1.

4. Torres Seals the Rout, Yamal Strikes the Crossbar

   • Ferran Torres added a fourth goal late in the game, finishing from a Gerard Martin assist.

   • Yamal nearly capped the performance with a spectacular effort, striking the crossbar with a curling shot.

Lewandowski’s Longevity & Barcelona’s Unbeaten Run

• At 36, Lewandowski dismissed concerns over his age, stating:

  "I know people talk about my age, but I feel great physically and want to continue playing at the highest level."

• Barcelona extended their unbeaten streak to 20 matches in 2025, showing consistent form as they push for the La Liga title, Copa del Rey, and Champions League treble.

Coach Flick’s Praise for Attacking Mentality

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick praised his team’s hunger for goals, stating:

"This is what I love about my team—they always want to score. It’s the mentality of champions, and it makes everyone happy—the fans, the club, and the players."

Girona’s Struggles Continue

• Having defeated Barcelona twice last season, Girona has struggled to replicate that success and currently sits in 13th place.

• Coach Michel Sánchez acknowledged Barcelona’s superiority, admitting:

  "They were the better team. There’s a difference in quality, and Barcelona always dreams of titles."

Looking Ahead

• Barcelona now shift their focus to their Copa del Rey semi-final against Atlético Madrid, with Flick rotating key players ahead of that crucial clash.

• With their free-scoring form (scoring four or more goals in 20 games this season), Barcelona remains a top contender for silverware on multiple fronts.

With this emphatic victory, Barcelona take firm control of the La Liga title race, while Lewandowski continues his march toward another Pichichi Trophy.