Barcelona 5-2 Red Star (6 Nov 2024) Game Analysis

Striker Robert Lewandowski scored a goal in each half to assist Barcelona secure a comprehensive 5-2 victory at Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League on Wednesday.

It was another impressive win for LaLiga leaders Barcelona, ​​who are in blistering form, scoring 24 goals in six consecutive wins in all competitions, including a thrashing of Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.

Barca climbed to sixth in the 36-team Champions League table with nine points. Røde Stjerne languish in 35th place without points after four games.

Manager Hansi Flick made two changes to the Barcelona team that beat local rivals Espanyol 3-1 in LaLiga on Sunday, giving Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong his first start since recovering from an ankle injury.

It took the Spanish team only 13 minutes to open the scoring when the defender Iñigo Martinez scored a close range header from a Raphinha free-kick in the 13th minute, but Silas beat Barca’s aggressive offside trap to equalize with a neat finish from a quick counter-attack.

---

However, Barca held their nerve and stuck to their aggressive game plan, pressing the home side high and creating several chances before Lewandowski headed home a rebound from a Raphinha strike in the 43rd minute to extend Barca’s lead eight minutes into the second half with a first-time shot from a cross past Jules Koundé.

The French full-back also set up Raphinha for Barca’s fourth and provided his third assist in the 76th minute, putting the ball on a plate for Fermin Lopez to fire Barca’s fifth from inside the box before substitute Milson reduced for the home side.

With 15 goals scored in four games, Barca have the best attack in the Champions League this season, with Raphinha and Lewandowski level with Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane and Sporting Viktor Gyökeres as the competition’s top scorer on five goals.

“We are doing things very well and it is reflected in the games,” centre-back Martinez told Movistar Plus.

“Being a defender, I can tell you that sometimes we suffer out there when the team slows down a bit after scoring and we can pay dearly for that.

“If we improve that, we can be a great team. We have to enjoy this win. I’m happy for the goal, but above all for the win.”