Barcelona's veteran striker, Robert Lewandowski, put an end to his goal drought with a stellar performance, securing a crucial 2-1 victory over Alaves in La Liga on Sunday.
Despite Alaves taking an early lead through Samu Omorodion, Lewandowski's second-half double turned the tide in Barcelona's favour, earning them three valuable points.
In a dire first half for Barcelona, Omorodion exploited defensive vulnerabilities, putting Alaves ahead. The visitors had opportunities to extend their lead, but Barcelona's goalkeeper, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, and a resilient defence prevented further damage.
The turning point came early in the second half when Lewandowski, 35 and facing criticism for his recent performances, scored a brilliant header from Jules Kounde's cross. The equaliser injected life into Barcelona, prompting coach Xavi to introduce fresh legs in Raphinha, Ferran Torres, and Alejandro Balde.
The breakthrough came when Torres was fouled in the box, leading to a penalty that Lewandowski confidently converted, securing the victory for Barcelona. The win keeps Barcelona within touching distance of league leaders Girona and second-placed Real Madrid.
Xavi, despite recent setbacks, maintained that Barcelona is not in crisis, emphasising his responsibility to lead the team out of their slump. The coach made strategic changes, including starting the talented Pedri Gonzalez, deploying Joao Cancelo at left-back, and reintroducing the 16-year-old prodigy Lamine Yamal.
The victory marks a positive turn for Barcelona, providing a much-needed boost after recent disappointments in the Clasico and the Champions League. As they continue their pursuit of league leader Girona, Lewandowski's resurgence offers hope for Barcelona's resurgence under Xavi's guidance.
