Barcelona’s Rollercoaster Ride: Lewandowski’s Brilliance Rescues Blaugrana in Hard-Fought Victory
- Beth Beth
- Nov 13, 2023
- 2 min read
Barcelona faced a nail-biting encounter at the Montjuïc Olympic Stadium, securing their second consecutive La Liga win against Deportivo Alavés with a 2-1 scoreline. Despite their triumph, the Blaugrana endured a dismal first half, marked by defensive lapses and a lackluster offensive display that had fans on edge.
The match began disastrously for Barcelona, conceding a goal just 20 seconds into the game as Alavés exploited a midfield turnover. Samu’s clinical finish gave the visitors an early lead, setting the tone for a challenging evening. Alavés strategically deployed a low block, pressuring Barcelona in midfield and capitalizing on counter-attacks with long balls, exposing vulnerabilities in the high defensive line.
Barça’s struggles persisted in the first half, with erratic ball control, misplaced passes, and questionable decisions in the attacking half. Samu’s missed opportunities, including a one-on-one with goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, left Barcelona fortunate to still be in contention. A glimmer of hope emerged when a well-placed pass from Gündogan found Lewandowski, but the Polish striker opted to take the chance himself, squandering a potential equalizer.
The halftime whistle signaled the end of a woeful 45 minutes for Barcelona, leaving fans frustrated and calling for a substantial improvement in the second half against a relegation-threatened Alavés side.
The second half commenced with the same lineup and a familiar attacking structure that had faltered earlier. Despite a slight increase in energy and intensity, Barcelona struggled to break through Alavés’ defense. However, a moment of brilliance from Jules Kounde, delivering a precise cross, allowed Lewandowski to score a spectacular header, breathing life into the contest.
As the clock ticked down, Barcelona faced the urgency of finding a winner. Manager Xavi Hernandez made crucial substitutions around the 70th minute, introducing Raphinha, Alejandro Balde, and Ferran Torres to inject vitality into the stagnant attack. While Raphinha’s crosses were wasteful and Balde remained subdued, Ferran Torres made a decisive impact by drawing a penalty after being brought down by Alavés center-back Abdel Abqar.
Lewandowski stepped up confidently, converting the penalty with precision, giving Barcelona the lead and easing the tension in the final 15 minutes. Despite their advantage, Barcelona struggled to maintain possession, allowing Alavés late attacking opportunities. Kike García came close to an equalizer in stoppage time, but the Blaugrana defense held firm, securing the hard-fought victory.
The final whistle brought relief for Barcelona, clinching three crucial points. However, the win did little to lift the mood, as the first half showcased some of the season’s worst football. The second half narrative centered on Lewandowski’s brilliance, overshadowing broader team struggles.
With the international break looming, Xavi Hernández faces a daunting task of rediscovering Barcelona’s winning formula. The inability to convincingly overcome a relegation-threatened opponent at home raises
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