Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha struck twice every as La Liga leaders Barcelona romped to a 5-1 win at Villarreal on Sunday however had been left fearing a “large” knee harm to goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen. Atletico Madrid, fourth, had been held to a 1-1 draw at metropolis rivals Rayo Vallecano as Conor Gallagher netted his second aim for the Rojiblancos. Barcelona’s sixth league triumph in six video games was marred by Ter Stegen being taken off on a stretcher after falling awkwardly having collected a cross, with early experiences suggesting he might miss the remainder of the season.
“I feel it is going to be an enormous harm, when he laid down on the sphere… you possibly can see it immediately,” Barcelona coach Hansi Flick informed DAZN.
Lewandowski netted Barcelona’s first two targets and later missed a penalty in a totally entertaining battle on Spain’s east coast at Villarreal’s Estadio de la Ceramica.
Ayoze Perez pulled his staff again into the sport shortly earlier than half-time and the beforehand unbeaten hosts had two targets disallowed, with Pablo Torre and Raphinha’s strikes cementing Barcelona’s victory.
After second-placed Actual Madrid thrashed Espanyol 4-1 on Saturday the Catalans had been capable of restore a four-point lead on the champions.
“It is essential for us that we performed a recreation away from house, we scored 5 targets and ultimately we’ve three factors,” stated Lewandowski.
“Ultimately it does not matter how, so long as we win that is good.”
Flick gave Eric Garcia one other begin in defensive midfield regardless of his early pink card towards Monaco within the Champions League midweek defeat.
The German coach additionally began reserve staff gamers Gerard Martin and Sergi Dominguez, in addition to playmaker Torre rather than the injured Dani Olmo.
Teenage star Lamine Yamal hit the put up early on earlier than Lewandowski slotted house within the twentieth minute after Torre slipped him in.
Villarreal goalkeeper Diego Conde did nicely to maintain out a bundled effort from the Polish striker however Lewandowski pounced after 35 minutes for his second.
Conde saved Garcia’s header nicely however the former Bayern Munich hitman transformed the rebound with an acrobatic end from shut vary.
It was his sixth La Liga aim of the season, taking him two away from Actual Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe in Spain’s golden boot race.
‘Particular individual’
Villarreal had been often threatening on the counter and Perez gave them a lifeline after the electrical Nicolas Pepe set him up.
Ter Stegen thwarted Pepe with a sensational save one-on-one earlier than half-time however the German Barca captain was quickly stricken as he fell badly after catching a nook earlier than the break and was changed by Inaki Pena.
Pepe completed brilliantly early within the second half however his effort was disallowed for a marginal offside name, and Yeremy Pino hit the bar with a header as Marcelino Garcia Toral’s facet drove Barcelona again.
Torre prolonged Barca’s lead with a deflected strike from the sting of the field, a killer blow given Villarreal’s momentum.
Lewandowski hit the put up from the spot after Eric Bailly scythed down Yamal and Villarreal’s Thierno Barry had a aim dominated out for offside.
Raphinha ended any hopes of a house comeback, first with a deflected shot after which ending after an excellent Yamal cross left him with simply Conde to beat.
“(Ter Stegen) is a really particular and essential individual within the dressing room, this victory is one hundred pc for him,” Raphinha informed DAZN.
Actual Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois wrote Ter Stegen a message on social media platform X.
“It harm me so much to see you allow the pitch like that,” wrote the Belgian stopper.
“I hope you possibly can recuperate quickly and we see you once more in aim.”
In a Madrid derby conflict Diego Simeone’s unbeaten Atletico couldn’t discover a well beyond Rayo Vallecano.
Rayo’s Isi Palazon slammed house from shut vary after 35 minutes and the aim was ultimately given after initially being dominated offside.
Nonetheless Gallagher completed neatly from the sting of the field early within the second half when Alexander Sorloth fed the England worldwide.
“(At half-time Simeone) informed us all of us needed to run, lately anybody who shouldn’t be operating right here can’t play,” Atletico captain Koke informed Movistar.
“We had possibilities to get the winner but it surely wasn’t to be.”
Athletic Bilbao overtook Atletico to maneuver into third with a 3-1 win towards Celta Vigo.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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