BARCELONA
\nRelentless striker Robert Lewandowski pounced twice as Barcelona hammered 10-man Elche 3-0 to move a point clear at the top of La Liga on Saturday.
\nThe Polish forward continued his sensational form since joining from Bayern Munich this summer, taking him to 11 goals in eight appearances across all competitions.
\nReal Madrid boast a 100 percent record after five games but face city rivals Atletico Madrid away in derby.
\nSo this was a chance for Barcelona to provisionally depose the champions and they seized it.
\n\u201cWe\u2019ll sleep as leaders for the first time in two years,\u201d said Barca coach Xavi Hermandez. \u201cWe\u2019ve done our homework and got the three points. We\u2019re on the right path.\u201d
\nXavi rotated in midfield after the Champions League defeat by Bayern Munich on Tuesday, with Frenkie de Jong and Franck Kessie stepping in, while Memphis Depay was handed a rare start in attack.
\nElche, bottom of the table, made the job significantly easier for the hosts when Gonzalo Verdu hauled down Lewandowski as he burst through on goal after 14 minutes and was swiftly dismissed.
\nBarcelona racked up the chances and inevitably Lewandowski broke the deadlock after 34 minutes.
\nPedri set Alejanrdo Balde in down the left and the young defender cut a ball across the six-yard box for the veteran striker to simply cushion into the net.
\n\u201cWe knew he would score goals and make the difference, but the personal side of him has surprised me,\u201d said Xavi.
\n\u201cHe has a lot of humility, commitment, hunger. He\u2019s very hard working.\u201d
\nMemphis doubled the lead with a sharp individual turn and powerful strike which flew past Edgar Badia, and Pedri added a third shortly before half-time but it was disallowed for offside.
\nBarcelona only had to wait three second half minutes for it, with Lewandowski pouncing on a loose ball in the box and finishing clinically to put the game far beyond Elche\u2019s reach.
\nAfter Cadiz\u2019s late win over Real Valladolid on Friday night, Francisco Rodriguez\u2019s side were left bottom of La Liga on one point, and never looked like changing it against Xavi\u2019s sparkling Barca.
\nBadia denied Lewandowski his hat-trick with a fine save and the striker fired fractionally over the bar before being replaced by Ferran Torres, to an ovation from home supporters already under his spell.
\nLong after Lewandowski had been replaced, his name continued to ring around the stadium. In the forward, Barcelona finally have a player to replace Lionel Messi\u2019s goal contributions and help them compete for the title again, which they last won in 2019.
\nLewandowski\u2019s arrival and the club\u2019s summer signings spree have given supporters a reason to watch again, as the 85,000 strong crowd testified to, compared to last season\u2019s languishing attendances.
\n\u201cThe excitement of the fans is palpable, in the stadium, in the streets, you have to maintain this hope and belief,\u201d added Xavi.
\n\u201cThe people are connected, Barcelona\u2019s support is more alive than ever.\u201d
\nElsewhere, Ernesto Valverde\u2019s Athletic Bilbao moved up to third in the table after beating Rayo Vallecano 3-2 in an entertaining clash at San Mames.
\nInaki Williams levelled for Athletic after veteran midfielder Oscar Trejo opened the scoring for the visitors.
\nOihan Sancet and Nico Williams, fresh from his call-up to Luis Enrique\u2019s Spain squad for the upcoming Nations League clashes, netted to give the hosts a two goal lead in Bilbao.
\nRadamel Falcao pulled one back late on but Valverde\u2019s side held out for the victory, moving three points behind Barcelona.
\nValencia thrashed Celta Vigo 3-0 at Mestalla to move eighth as Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani made his debut following his move from Manchester United.
\nGennaro Gatuso\u2019s team have a 100 percent home record and played with conviction.
\nSamu Castellejo broke the deadlock in the first half, before Celta\u2019s Franco Cervi was sent off for a rash tackle on Thierry Correia.
\nMarcos Andre and Andre Almeida added late goals to wrap up the win.
\nReal Mallorca beat Almeria 1-0 at Son Moix.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
BARCELONA Relentless striker Robert Lewandowski pounced twice as Barcelona hammered 10-man Elche 3-0 to move a point clear at the top of La Liga on Saturday. The Polish forward continued his sensational form since joining from Bayern Munich this summer, taking him to 11 goals in eight appearances across all competitions. Real Madrid boast a […]<\/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-284197","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n