Lewandowski at the double as in-form Barcelona punish 10-man Elche
MADRID: Robert Lewandowski scored twice as Barcelona moved top of La Liga with a comfortable win over 10-man Elche.
The Poland international scored either side of the break to take his tally to 11 goals in eight appearances since joining Barcelona in July.
In between, Memphis Depay opened his account with a powerful effort into the roof of the net.
Visiting captain Gonzalo Verdu was sent off in the 14th minute for pulling Lewandowski down when he was through.
From there it proved a routine victory for Xavi’s side, with 25 efforts on goal to Elche’s one.
Alejandro Balde teed up Lewandowski for his first of the game, Depay added a second and Pedri had a third ruled out after VAR intervened before the Pole scored his eighth goal in six matches in the Spanish top flight.
Barca now sit a point above Real Madrid at the top of the table, with Carlo Ancelotti’s side travelling to play city rivals Atletico on Sunday evening.
In Germany . . .
Bayern Munich fell to a surprise first defeat of the season at Augsburg as they missed the opportunity to go top of the Bundesliga.
Mergim Berisha scored the only goal of the game as the hosts recorded their first home win of the season.
Bayern have now failed to win their last four matches in the German top flight and may drop out of the top four after Sunday’s fixtures.
Borussia Dortmund top the table after a 1-0 win over local rivals Schalke.
Substitute Youssoufa Moukoko, 17, headed the winner for Edin Terzic’s side to become the youngest player to have scored in the fixture.
Union Berlin, who currently sit second, could reclaim top spot if they beat Wolfsburg on Sunday while third-placed Freiburg travel to Hoffenheim.
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