Crvena Zvezda 2-5 Barcelona – Raphinha, Jules Konde and Robert Lewandowski shine as Barca storm past Crvena Zvezda

Barcelona crushed Crvena Zvezda 5-2 in Serbia as Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha starred for Hansi Flick’s side.

Barcelona were looking to maintain their excellent form under Flick, while the home side needed a win to have a slim chance of making the play-offs later in the tournament.

It was Barca who took the lead when defender Inigo Martinez scored early with a header from a corner, before Silas broke the offside trap at the other end to equalize after 27 minutes.

Lewandowski then finished off a superb move to put the away side ahead just before the break.

In the second half Lewandowski added his second after a clever cross from Jules Konde and two minutes later Raphinha made it four. Substitute Fermin Lopez then converted from another Kounde assist for the fifth. Milson then pulled one back for Crvena Zvezda with a fine curling effort, but it wasn’t enough to spark a comeback.

The Serbian side remain pointless after the heavy defeat, with Barcelona now on nine points and on course to reach the next round.

A difficult season led to the reasonable prediction that 2023/24 was the season when the Polish veteran had finally started to fall off, but the arrival of Hansi Flick has changed all that.

Lewandowski scored his 18th and 19th goals in the match against Crvena Zvezda with two poached goals. He is now up to 99 Champions League goals.

The experienced striker clearly benefits from an attacking trio that creates chances that he can seize to convert.

Crvena Marko Ilic 5, Seol 5, Djiga 5, Spajic 6, Rodic 5, Krunic 5, Kanga 6, Elsnik 5, Maksimovic 6, Silas 7, Ndiaye 6. Subs: Dalcio 6, Luka Ilic 6, Katai 46, Milson 7, Prutsev 6.

Barcelona: Pena 6, Cubarsi 7, Martinez 7, Casado 7, Kounde 8, Martin 6, De Jong 6, Pedri 7, Raphinha 8, Yamal 7, Lewandowski 8. Subs: Gavi 6, Fermin 7, Pau 6, Olmo 6, Sergi 64.

13′ – GOAL! CRVENA ZVEZDA 0-1 BARCELONA – MARTINEZ SCORES – The defender heads home for his first in Europe this season. Raphinha hits a nice free-kick to the back post and Martinez heads towards the far post.

27′ – GOAL! CRVENA ZVEZDA 1-1 BARCELONA – SILAS SCORES – It’s all square. Silas breaks the offside trap, sees Pena out early and he scoops the ball around him with a great finish.

43′ – GOAL! CRVENA ZVEZDA 1-2 BARCELONA – LEWANDOWSKI RESULTS – A simple end to an excellent move. Yamal dances into the box, finds Pedri, who tees up for Raphinha outside the box. His shot rattles the post, gets to the left of the Polish striker, who slides in to convert.

53′ – GOAL! CRVENA ZVEZDA 1-3 BARCELONA – LEWANDOWSKI RESULTS – Pedri finds Konde on the right in space, he whips a cross to the back post that bounces onto Lewandowski’s thigh for him to bundle in.

55′ – GOAL! CRVENA ZVEZDA 1-4 BARCELONA – RAPHINHA SCORES – Konde comes forward once again down the right, cleverly pulls the ball back to Raphinha on the edge of the box and he side-foots a low shot into the corner

76′ – GOAL! CRVENA ZVEZDA 1-5 BARCELONA – FERMIN SCORES – Kounde is high up on the right again, he finds Fermin to his left and his forward shot slips off Dalcio and past the keeper.

84′ – GOAL! CRVENA ZVEZDA 2-5 BARCELONA – MILSON SCORES – A superb effort from the rising winger Konde steps in and curls into the far corner.

Barcelona have now won seven games in a row.