Player ratings as Lewandowski settles seven-goal thriller

Robert Lewandowski’s first goal of the season decided a bonkers 4-3 victory for Barcelona away to Villarreal on Sunday afternoon.

The Catalan coach Xavi Hernandez predicted pre-game: “The key will be control of the ball.” The visitors finished with more possession but neither side could really claim control of a chaotic contest that saw four goals in the first half and three after the break.

A game that didn’t so much ebb and flow as it violently crashed from one end to the other was a thrilling watch for everyone in the Estadio de Ceramica apart from the two coaches.

Xavi’s side ultimately emerged with three points but it was not a win that inspired a lot of confidence in the reigning champions.

How the game unfolded

The shared philosophy of both managers, drawing from the school of Johan Cruyff, was on full display as both sides squeezed the pitch and feverishly tried to regain possession.

In a match littered with chances. Barcelona raced into a 2-0 lead inside a quarter of an hour but Villarreal, managed by former Blaugrana coach Quique Setien, could just as easily have been ahead.

Alex Baena nominally lined up on the left wing for the hosts but drifted infield when Villarreal had possession, creating a bevvy of chances that his teammates squandered.

Gavi was given the same hybrid role as Baena for the visitors. Skulking in at the back post, the 5’8 midfielder out-jumped his own teammate to head in Lamine Yamal’s cross. Frenkie de Jong doubled Barcelona’s lead within three minutes, pouncing upon a fortuitous ricochet to rifle in his first goal since the World Cup.

Juan Foyth halved the deficit with a header from a corner that clanked off the inside of the post before Alexander Sorloth completed a dizzying first-half turnaround. After a narrow VAR review had denied him earlier, the pixels were this time on the Norwegian’s side as he scurried behind Barcelona’s aggressively high backline to cap a fluid counterattack.

Any talk of dialling down the tempo during the half-time interval lasted less than five minutes. Villarreal’s Alfonso Pedraza galloped down the left flank practically unopposed, teeing Baena up for a crisp strike beyond even Ter Stegen’s reach. Sergi Roberto endured a torrid afternoon at right-back for Barcelona, underscoring the urgency with which the club have to complete the deal for Joao Cancelo.

Xavi may not have a natural right-back but he can call upon a “shark”. Ferran Torres was likened to the predator by his manager in the week and lived up to his deadly billing, sniffing out a loose ball to swat Barcelona level five minutes after his substitution.

Lewandowski has been one of Europe’s premier poachers over the last decade but began this season – and Sunday’s match – sluggishly. Nevertheless, the wily 35-year-old was on hand to tap Barcelona in front in the 71st minute. In yet another encouraging display from the prodigious teenager, Yamal forced the winner with a low striker that was pushed onto the post and into Lewandowski’s path.

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GK: Marc-Andre ter Stegen – 8/10 – Fresh from signing a new contract, Ter Stegen once again proved that he is worth every penny with a flurry of miraculous saves.

RB: Sergi Roberto – 3/10 – Constantly caught in two minds, leaving Baena and Pedraza to wreak havoc in that uncertainty.

CB: Jules Kounde – 4/10 – All too often forced into a last-ditch defensive action which didn’t always come off.

CB: Andreas Christensen – 3/10 – Inspired little confidence without the commanding presence of the injured Ronald Araujo beside him. Hooked at half-time for Eric Garcia.

LB: Marcos Alonso – 6/10 – Tasked with providing Barcelona’s width down the left flank, Alonso increasingly crashed the box after the break.

CM: Oriol Romeu – 6/10 – Sweeping up any loose scraps at the base of Barcelona’s midfield.

CM: Frenkie de Jong – 8/10 – Seemed to relish Villarreal’s high press. After coming up against stubborn low blocks, De Jong languidly swayed between the chasing yellow shirts.

AM: Ilkay Gundogan – 5/10 – A footballer who plays like he’s wearing a dinner jacket struggled to get involved in this ragged contest.

RW: Lamine Yamal – 7/10 – Completely ignored his defensive duties but created two goals and hit the woodwork twice.

ST: Robert Lewandowski – 5/10 – Bumped and bruised, the Pole kept his concentration long enough to gobble up a tap-in.

LW: Gavi – 7/10 – Celebrated his well-taken goal with a nod to the absent Pedri but Barcelona didn’t miss the injured midfielder going forward thanks, in no small part, to Gavi.

Substitutes

SUB: Eric Garcia (46′ for Christensen) – 4/10 – Scarcely did much better than Christensen.

SUB: Ferran Torres (63′ for Romeu) – 7/10 – Despite limited minutes, Ferran continued his excellent form in front of goal.

SUB: Ansu Fati (76′ for Yamal) – N/A

SUB: Fermin Lopez (86′ for Gundogan) – N/A

Subs not used: Kochen (GK), Astralaga (GK), Balde, Casado, Abde

Manager

Xavi Hernandez – 5/10 – Watching on from his plexiglass prison, the suspended coach was left shaking his head in disbelief at the wildly open setup he had devised.

Player of the match – Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona)