Barcelona 5-0 Young Boys: Lewandowski brace leads Blaugrana to five-star win
Reuters with editing from Stats Perform
October 1, 2024 05:44 MYT
October 1, 2024 05:44 MYT
Robert Lewandowski scored twice as Barcelona thrashed Young Boys 5-0 on Tuesday, bouncing back from their opening Champions League defeat at Monaco.
Hansi Flick's team were beaten 2-1 by Monaco in their first game in the competition's new-look league phase, but there were no surprises when Young Boys visited Montjuic on matchday two.
Lewandowski gave the hosts the lead in the eighth minute by tapping in a low Raphinha cross, following good combination play between the Brazilian and teenage sensation Lamine Yamal.
After the hosts squandered some decent chances, a quickfire double from Raphinha and Inigo Martinez gave Barca a 3-0 lead, the Brazilian netting a rebound in the 34th minute and Martinez scoring with a towering header less than three minutes later.
Lewandowski got his second and Barca's fourth shortly after half-time, nodding a Martinez corner home from inside the six-yard box, then Young Boys defender Mohamed Camara bundled the ball into his own net while trying to clear Alejandro Balde's cross late on.
FIRST WIN SECURED! pic.twitter.com/01rHWcnMF9 — FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 1, 2024
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Data Debrief: Lewandowski level with Messi
As well as helping Barca to a crucial victory following their matchday one defeat, Lewandowski's double saw him draw level with Lionel Messi as the most ruthless finishers in Champions League history.
He now averages 0.79 goals per 90 minutes in the competition, a figure only matched by Blaugrana great Messi among all players to play a minimum of 50 matches.
Cristiano Ronaldo (0.77 goals per 90), Ruud van Nistelrooy (0.77) and Karim Benzema (0.59) trail Lewandowski and Messi for that metric.
The Poland star has also now scored 51 Champions League goals after turning 30 years old, becoming just the second player to accomplish that feat after Ronaldo (68).
0.79 - Players with the best goal ratio in @ChampionsLeague (at least 50 goals scored): 0.79 - ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI 0.79 - Lionel Messi 0.77 - Cristiano Ronaldo 0.77 - Ruud van Nistelrooy 0.59 - Karim Benzema Classics. pic.twitter.com/j3Bz5k11R8 — OptaJose (@OptaJose) October 1, 2024
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