BARCELONA, Oct 30: Barcelona was on the brink of another setback when Robert Lewandowski stretched out his right boot and found the winner.
The Poland striker’s goal in stoppage time snatched a 1-0 victory at Valencia on Saturday, lifting Barcelona back to the top of the Spanish league standings level on points with Real Madrid.
Lewandowski’s last-gasp lunge spared Xavi Hernández’s side more disappointment three days after it bowed out of the Champions League at the group phase for a second consecutive year.
While failing to find the net in losses against Madrid and former club Bayern Munich, Lewandowski is enjoying great form in the Spanish league with a league-high 13 goal in 12 rounds.
He again made up for the poor finishing of his teammates in Valencia when he steered a lobbed pass by Raphinha home.
Raphinha and Ferran Torres, players Barcelona spent over 110 million euros to bring in over the past year, both missed golden chances in the 85th after going on as substitutes. Pedri González fed what looked like a perfect assist to Torres, but instead of just pushing it home the former Valencia and Manchester City forward shot the ball off his other leg. Raphinha then smashed the rebound over the bar. (AP)
