Barcelona frontman Robert Lewandowski proved himself the decisive figure, in guiding the Blaugrana beyond Valencia on Monday night.
Xavi’s troops, of course, marked their return to action a short time ago.
After being ousted from their spot in 2nd in the La Liga table by Girona over the weekend, Barca welcomed the aforementioned Valencia to Catalunya, with sights set on a return to winning ways.
And, when all was said and done, clinch a much-needed three points is precisely what the evening’s hosts managed.
After goals on the part of Hugo Duro and Pepelu cancelled out Fermín López’s early opener to turn the clash on its head, the aforementioned Lewandowski came to the fore, when his side needed him most.
First, early in the 2nd-half, the Pole nodded home İlkay Gündoğan’s whipped corner from the left, to drag Barcelona back on level terms.
Then, inside the closing ten minutes, Lewandowski was back at it again, bagging his brace from close range.
Safe to say, though, that the 35-year-old saved the best for last…
After the hosts were awarded a free-kick just outside the Valencia penalty area, ‘Lewa’ took responsibility, bending a gorgeous right-footed effort into the top corner, to round out his hat-trick.
Victory for Barcelona aside, his latest haul in front of goal also proved significant for Lewandowski when it comes to the Pichichi race.
Having previously looked as good as out of the running to retain his status as La Liga’s top scorer, the former Bayern Munich man is now just three goals off leader Artem Dovbyk (19), with five games to play…
Conor Laird | GSFN
