European football: Koundé and Lewandowski on the mark in Barcelona’s comeback win | European club football

Barcelona secured a 2-1 comeback win over Actual Sociedad on Sunday that despatched them prime of the LaLiga standings after they turned the match round with targets from Jules Koundé and Robert Lewandowski both aspect of half-time. Barcelona’s sixth win in seven matches moved the champions on to 19 factors, one level above Actual Madrid, as Actual Sociedad remained on 5 factors after their fourth lack of the marketing campaign.

“It was a staff victory. They knew the right way to play and it was arduous work, however we deserved it,” stated the Barcelona coach Hansi Flick.

Mikel Oyarzabal headed huge from Gonçalo Guedes’s cross within the tenth minute as Sociedad seemed to capitalise on the uncommon probabilities that got here their means, whereas Barcelona managed the sport with 87% possession within the first half.

A minute later, the Sociedad keeper Álex Remiro made a diving save to disclaim Marcus Rashford’s try from contained in the field, and stored out Roony Bardghji’s left-footed shot within the twenty fourth minute. However Sociedad took the lead on the half-hour mark in opposition to the run of play via the previous Actual Madrid right-back Álvaro Odriozola, who was making his first begin of the season after fellow defender Jon Aramburu acquired injured through the warmup. Ander Barrenetxea beat Koundé within the field and crossed to an unmarked Odriozola, who completed right-footed from the sting of the six-yard field.

Barcelona equalised within the forty third minute as Rashford’s nook discovered Koundé within the field and the French defender made no mistake with a header.

A assured Barcelona pushed for the winner within the second half, and Lamine Yamal made an influence lower than a minute after approaching as an alternative. The 18-year-old, who was getting back from a groin harm, dribbled previous a defender and crossed to Lewandowski, whose header went in off the publish within the 58th minute to place the hosts 2-1 up. Lewandowski might have scored once more a minute later however shot over the bar from Dani Olmo’s back-heel.

Sociedad virtually hit again when Aihen Muñoz discovered Oyarzabal with a via ball, however his shot was tipped over by the goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny. The guests went near an equaliser within the 84th minute when Takefusa Kubo’s shot hit the crossbar and a minute later, Lewandowski’s shot on the different finish additionally got here off the woodwork.

Barcelona, who’re on a five-match profitable streak in all competitions, host Paris Saint-Germain within the Champions League on Wednesday, earlier than persevering with their LaLiga title defence at Sevilla subsequent Sunday. “It’s good, however it’s an extended highway forward … tomorrow we are going to begin focusing all our consideration on PSG,” Flick stated.

Milan held on for a 2-1 win over Napoli at San Siro to go prime of the Serie A standings on aim distinction, after Christian Pulisic scored one and created the opposite earlier than the house aspect went right down to 10 males and conceded a penalty. Napoli dropped their first factors of the season in a sport the place Milan seemed in management at half-time via targets from Alexis Saelemaekers and Pulisic however Pervis Estupiñán’s purple card and Kevin De Bruyne’s penalty virtually rescued the guests.

“There shall be different video games like this of struggling,” the Milan supervisor Massimiliano Allegri stated. “However taking part in them with this spirit will probably be simpler to deliver them dwelling.”

There’s a three-way tie on the prime with Milan, Napoli and Roma all on 12 factors. Juventus sit one level behind after their 1-1 draw with Atalanta on Saturday.