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Barcelona forward Robert Lewandowski emerged as one of the top scorers at the end of the fourth day of the Champions League after his side’s 5-2 win over Crvena Zvezda, sharing the position with Raphinha, Viktor Gyokeres, and Harry Kane.
With his two-goal performance against Red Star, Lewandowski came just one goal short of the 100-goal mark in the Champions League, a milestone that’s well within reach.
His contributions also led Barcelona to their historic 700th goal in the European Cup competition, an achievement he was evidently proud of.
Reflecting on this achievement, Lewandowski expressed his satisfaction with the team’s effort, especially given the challenge posed by Red Star’s tight defensive line.
“It is a historic milestone and I am very happy. As a striker it is not easy to play against such a tight defence, we need a bit of patience to find the free space. As a team, we played very well and in the end, we were able to take the victory,” he began saying.
A game of two halves
Robert Lewandowski scored a brace. (Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images)
Lewandowski also noted the difference in Barcelona’s play between the two halves. The team aimed to score early on, yet initially struggled to break through the opposition’s defence.
However, in the second half, Barcelona quickened their pace and appeared far more dangerous, creating multiple scoring opportunities and securing the win.
“We wanted to score quickly. In the beginning, we played a bit slowly, but in the second half we picked up the pace a bit and we could have scored three more goals.”
Although Lewandowski missed chances for more goals, he remained content with the brace he managed, knowing that he would always have future chances to score.
“I’ll stick to the goals, I’m happy because I have opportunities to score. There are times when you lack precision or then you score the first one that comes your way.
“The last two games have not been easy for me, but this is sometimes my job, to create space in the area and be patient,” he added.
Inigo Martinez’s take
Inigo Martinez opened the scoring for Barcelona. (Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images)
In a standout performance alongside Lewandowski was defender Inigo Martinez, who was named the MVP of the match.
The seasoned centre-back not only defended solidly but also scored his second Champions League goal of the season. Martinez celebrated the MVP recognition by posing with Raphinha, who also scored in the match, signifying the strong teamwork between them.
After the match, Martinez reflected on the squad’s overall performance and commended his teammates, attributing his MVP title to the collective effort. For him, individual awards come secondary to the team’s success and their shared goal of winning trophies.
“This MVP belongs to the whole team. We have all worked for this. Normally I am not used to these best player awards. For me, the most important thing is the team’s trophies and we will continue to fight for it,” said the defender.
Concentration needed
Inigo Martine has asked for more concentration. (Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images)
He admitted there were moments when Barcelona seemed to lose focus, especially after scoring, allowing the opposition to press forward.
Martinez also stressed the need to maintain concentration throughout the match, acknowledging that Barcelona seemed to find their rhythm again in the second half.
“After the goal we relaxed, but in the second half it was us. It happened to us that when we scored we relaxed and they pressed. In the second half, we came out with a different rhythm and it showed.”
Martinez’s goal came from a well-rehearsed play that exploited the opponent’s vulnerability at the far post. He noted that when he saw the ball coming his way, he knew it was a strong chance to score.
“The truth is that the play was rehearsed and it came out perfectly. We saw that they were suffering at the back post and when I saw the ball come out I knew it was good. I’m always happy to be able to help the team,” he concluded.
Source: Mundo Deportivo
