Barcelona cruises to 3-0 win over Alaves

FC Barcelona will head into the second international break of the season as La Liga leaders, following a commanding 3-0 victory over Deportivo Alavés on Sunday in Vitoria-Gasteiz. Robert Lewandowski was the star of the match, scoring all three goals in the first half to secure the win for the Catalan side.

Lewandowski’s hat-trick steals the show

The 36-year-old Polish striker was in top form, continuing his prolific season by netting a hat-trick before halftime. His first two goals came courtesy of assists from Raphinha, with the Brazilian winger creating opportunities for Lewandowski to finish with precision. The third goal was set up by Eric García, who delivered a well-placed pass that Lewandowski converted to complete his hat-trick. With ten goals in nine matches, Lewandowski now sits comfortably at the top of the La Liga scoring charts, showcasing his enduring talent and importance to Barcelona’s attack under coach Hansi Flick. This win propels Barça to 24 points, keeping them ahead of Real Madrid, who remain undefeated but have drawn three times, leaving them three points behind their Catalan rivals.

Frenkie de Jong returns

While the first half was full of action, the second half saw a quieter period as Barcelona comfortably managed their lead. Frenkie de Jong made a substitute appearance, coming on for Alejandro Balde in the 75th minute. De Jong, who returned to the squad in the midweek Champions League win against BSC Young Boys (5-0), received a warm reception from the fans after his recent injury layoff. However, he will not join the Dutch national team for their upcoming Nations League matches against Germany and Hungary as he continues to ease back into full fitness.

Key matches await Barcelona after the break

Looking ahead, Barcelona will face a challenging schedule after the international break. They will host Sevilla before welcoming Bayern Munich for a highly anticipated Champions League showdown. The month will culminate with the first El Clásico of the season against Real Madrid on October 26, as the two Spanish giants meet in what could be a crucial battle for the La Liga title. Real Madrid also secured a 2-0 win over Villarreal on Saturday but suffered a blow with right-back Dani Carvajal sustaining a serious knee injury. Barcelona, meanwhile, will be hoping to maintain their momentum and continue their strong start to the season when they return to action.