Robert Lewandowski showcased his exceptional form on Sunday, netting a hat trick within just 25 minutes as Barcelona secured a 3-0 victory over Alaves, propelling them to the top of the Spanish league ahead of the international break.
Lewandowski’s goals came in the seventh, 22nd, and 32nd minutes, bringing his league total to 10 goals in nine matches. Overall, he has scored 12 goals in 11 games across all competitions and has hit the net eight times in his last five outings. This performance follows his brace in Barcelona’s recent 5-0 win against Young Boys in the Champions League.
“We played a very good match from the first minute,” Lewandowski remarked. “When you score three goals in the first half, it allows you to control the game much more effectively in the second.”
With this victory, Barcelona is now three points ahead of second-placed Real Madrid, who recently drew level on points after defeating Villarreal 2-0 on Saturday. Barcelona had come into this match after suffering their first league defeat of the season, a 4-2 loss against Osasuna, after starting with seven consecutive wins.
Lewandowski’s goals were all close-range finishes, with assists from Raphinha and Eric Garcia. Alaves faced a tough match, marking their third consecutive defeat and failing to register a single shot on goal in the first half. Barcelona also lost forward Ferran Torres due to a suspected muscle injury just five minutes into the game.
In other matches, Atletico Madrid climbed to third place after a 1-1 draw against Real Sociedad. Julián Alvarez opened the scoring for Atletico right at the start, with Sociedad equalizing late in the game through Luka Sucic’s stunning curler. Atletico now sits on equal points with Villarreal, albeit ahead on goal difference.
Sevilla triumphed in the Seville derby, as Dodi Lukebakio converted a penalty in the 50th minute, leading to a 1-0 win over Real Betis, who have lost their last two matches. Sevilla has now claimed two victories in their last three games.
Finally, Girona managed to break their six-match winless streak by defeating Athletic Bilbao 2-1, with Cristhian Stuani scoring the decisive goal from the penalty spot in stoppage time. Girona’s goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga was pivotal in the match, saving three penalties—one in the first half and two in the second after a video review required one penalty to be retaken. This defeat marked Athletic’s first loss in six matches across all competitions.