Barcelona crushed Crvena Zvezda 5-2 in Serbia as Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha starred for Hansi Flick’s side.
Barcelona were looking to keep up their excellent form under Flick while the home side needed a win to have even a remote chance of making the play-offs later in the tournament.
It was Barca who went ahead, as defender Inigo Martinez scored early with a header from a corner, before Silas broke the offside trap at the other end to level on 27 minutes.
Lewandowski then finished off an excellent move to put the away side ahead just before half-time.
In the second half, Lewandowski added his second after a smart cross from Jules Kounde, 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 was not 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.
TALKING POINT – LEWANDOWSKI IS NOT SLOWING DOWN
A difficult season led to the reasonable suggestion that 2023/24 was the season the Polish veteran had finally started to drop off, but Hansi Flick’s arrival has changed all that.
Lewandowski scored his 18th and 19th goals in the match against Crvena Zvezda, with two poacher’s goals. He is now up to 99 Champions League goals.
The experienced forward is clearly benefiting from an attacking trio that creates chances that he can seize upon to convert.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH – RAPHINHA (BARCELONA)
PLAYER RATINGS
Crvena Zvezda: 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.
KEY EVENTS
13’ – GOAL! CRVENA ZVEZDA 0-1 BARCELONA – MARTINEZ SCORES – The defender heads home for his first in Europe this season. Raphinha loops in a great 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 SCORES – A simple finish to an excellent move. Yamal dances into the box, finds Pedri, who tees up Raphinha outside the box. His shot rattles the post, comes to the left-hand side for the Polish striker, who slides in to convert.
53’ – GOAL! CRVENA ZVEZDA 1-3 BARCELONA – LEWANDOWSKI SCORES – Pedri finds Kounde on the right in space, he whips in a cross to the back post that bounces into Lewandowski’s thighs for him to bundle in.
55’ – GOAL! CRVENA ZVEZDA 1-4 BARCELONA – RAPHINHA SCORES – Kounde gets forward down the right once more, smartly pulls the ball back to Raphinha on the edge of the box, and he sidefoots a low shot into the corner
76’ – GOAL! CRVENA ZVEZDA 1-5 BARCELONA – FERMIN SCORES – Kounde again is high up on the right, he finds Fermin to his left, and his prodded shot skids of Dalcio and past the keeper.
84’ – GOAL! CRVENA ZVEZDA 2-5 BARCELONA – MILSON SCORES – A superb effort from the winger, who stands up Kounde, steps inside, and curls into the far corner.
KEY STAT
Barcelona have now won seven consecutive matches.
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