MADRID
\nRobert Lewandowski scored again as Barcelona defeated Sevilla 3-0 in La Liga on Saturday, while Real Madrid made it four wins from four with victory over Real Betis.
\nBarcelona rode their lucky early on at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan as Marc-Andre ter Stegen denied Ivan Rakitic and Youssef En-Nesyri before the visitors struck against the run of play.
\nRaphinha headed in the rebound after Lewandowski\u2019s dinked effort was cleared off the line, but the Poland star didn\u2019t need long to get on the scoresheet himself.<\/p>\n
Lewandowski controlled a flighted pass from Jules Kounde on his chest and volleyed past Bono for his fifth league goal in four appearances.<\/p>\n
Eric Garcia tapped in Barcelona\u2019s third five minutes after half-time after Raphinha\u2019s cross was nodded across goal by Kounde, who was sold by Sevilla for 50 million euros ($49.8 million) this summer.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a very good match overall, we dominated and even had chances to score more,\u201d Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez told Movistar.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going through a good period. Winning 3-0 at Sevilla is a good sign.\u201d<\/p>\n
Barcelona, who host Viktoria Plzen on Wednesday in the opening round of Champions League group games, are two points behind Madrid, but Sevilla have just one point so far.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe situation we find ourselves in is a bit difficult,\u201d said Sevilla midfielder Rakitic.<\/p>\n
\u201cI ask forgiveness for the results, but also for confidence and patience. We have full confidence in our coach (Julen Lopetegui).\u201d<\/p>\n
Vinicius Junior struck for the third game running as Madrid took an early lead at the Santiago Bernabeu, but Sergio Canales soon equalised with a goal against his former club.<\/p>\n
Rodrygo secured a 2-1 win for Carlo Ancelotti\u2019s side just past the hour with his first goal of the campaign, ending Betis\u2019 perfect start.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a special forward because he can play in any position. He\u2019s very quick and very intelligent without the ball,\u201d Ancelotti said of Rodrygo, now in his fourth season with Real.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe apprenticeship is over and now he\u2019s a Real Madrid player in every way.\u201d<\/p>\n
Next up for the European champions is a trip to Celtic in the Champions League.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
MADRID Robert Lewandowski scored again as Barcelona defeated Sevilla 3-0 in La Liga on Saturday, while Real Madrid made it four wins from four with victory over Real Betis. Barcelona rode their lucky early on at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan as Marc-Andre ter Stegen denied Ivan Rakitic and Youssef En-Nesyri before the visitors struck against […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-281583","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n