Barcelona Dominates Alaves with Lewandowski Hat-Trick

The Estadio de Mendizorrotza in Vitoria-Gasteiz was the venue for a La Liga clash on Sunday, as Barcelona faced Deportivo Alaves. The Catalan giants were eager to bounce back after suffering their first league defeat of the season against Osasuna. Barcelona came out on top with a commanding performance, securing a 3-0 victory over Alaves.

Polish forward Robert Lewandowski was the standout player of the match, netting an impressive first-half hat-trick for Barcelona. His early onslaught began in the 7th minute when he headed in a free-kick delivered by Raphinha, evading the Alaves defense to put Barcelona ahead. Lewandowski’s accuracy and lethal finishing were pivotal as Barcelona looked to reassert their dominance in La Liga.

In the 22nd minute, Raphinha orchestrated a scintillating one-man counter-attack, providing a simple tap-in for Lewandowski to double Barcelona’s lead. The Polish international completed his hat-trick in the 32nd minute with a clinical finish following a precise through ball from Eric García, cementing Barcelona’s commanding lead.

Alaves struggled to contain Barcelona’s attacking prowess, and their defensive weaknesses were evident as they failed to mitigate the threats posed by Lewandowski and his teammates. Alaves found themselves in 11th position prior to the match, with three wins, one draw, and four losses in their campaign. Unfortunately, this home fixture added another loss to their tally, providing little respite in their La Liga efforts.

Barcelona’s lineup was affected early in the game when Ferran Torres was forced off with an apparent hamstring injury, bringing Eric García into the match as a substitute in the 6th minute. Despite this setback, the Blaugrana managed to showcase their depth of talent.

The match drew considerable attention with kick-off times catering to audiences across the globe, including a 16:15 CEST start locally in Spain. It was available for viewing on Premier Sports in Britain and Ireland, and ESPN Deportes, ESPN+ USA, and fuboTV in the United States.

Referee Miguel Ángel Ortiz Arias officiated the match, with José Luis Munuera Montero overseeing VAR decisions. The game was characterized by its fast pace and Barcelona’s efficient use of possession, which overwhelmed an Alaves side that appeared overawed by the high-tempo Barcelona attack.

Following this win, Barcelona remains at the summit of the La Liga table. They look forward to maintaining their form as the season progresses, hoping to clinch the league title with continued performances of similar caliber.