Barcelona Dominates Red Star Belgrade 5-2 in Champions League Rout
In an exhilarating Champions League encounter on Wednesday, Barcelona continued their stellar form with a resounding 5-2 victory over Red Star Belgrade. The win, which marked their seventh consecutive victory across all competitions, keeps Barcelona firmly in the top ranks of their Champions League group.
Robert Lewandowski was the star of the night, netting a brace to bring his career Champions League tally to 99 goals. The Polish striker’s goals were crucial in ensuring Barcelona’s dominance in Serbia, as the Catalan side showcased their attacking prowess once again. Inigo Martinez, Raphinha, and Fermin Lopez also found the back of the net, underlining Barcelona’s potent offensive performance.
Barcelona got off to a strong start, with Martinez heading home a well-placed Raphinha free-kick in the 13th minute to give the visitors the lead. However, Red Star Belgrade responded quickly, with Silas equalizing in the 27th minute, capitalizing on a defensive lapse to slip past the offside trap and finish coolly past Barcelona goalkeeper Inaki Pena.
Despite the equalizer, Barcelona kept up the pressure. Lewandowski’s first goal came just before halftime, finishing off a rebound after Raphinha’s shot hit the post. The second half saw more of the same as Lewandowski bundled home a second from close range in the 53rd minute, taking his season tally to 19 goals across all competitions.
Raphinha added a fourth for Barcelona with a calm finish from the edge of the box after excellent build-up play, and substitute Fermin Lopez rounded off the scoring with a simple tap-in following a cross from Jules Kounde, who registered his third assist of the match.
Red Star managed to pull one back late in the game, as Milson scored a beautiful curling effort past Pena, but the hosts were unable to mount a serious challenge against the relentless Barcelona attack.
Barcelona’s attacking display has been nothing short of spectacular, with the team now having scored 55 goals in 16 matches across all competitions. Despite some defensive concerns highlighted by centre-back Martinez, the result continues their impressive form under coach Hansi Flick, who praised his team's pressing and ball control.
Barcelona’s victory cements their place as one of the top contenders in the Champions League, and with Lewandowski nearing a century of goals in the competition, they remain a formidable force as the tournament progresses.
Reference from : -https://sports.ndtv.com/uefa-champions-league/barcelona-rout-red-star-belgrade-in-champions-league-6961915