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With two powerful headers and a sublime freekick, Robert Lewandowski helped Barcelona to a 4-2 victory against 10-man Valencia.
Robert Lewandowski scored his first hat-trick for Barcelona in LALIGA to help the Blaugrana fight back from 2-1 to beat Valencia 4-2.
With Real Madrid expected to lift LALIGA given the margin of points difference, Barcelona's main objective is to finish second. Failing to beat Valencia would have seen them remain third ahead of the trip to second-placed Girona next week. The win helped Xavi's men leapfrog the Blanquivermells and placed their destiny in their hands.
How it happened
Valencia had early chances through Hugo Duro and Peter Gonzalez, but it was Barcelona who took the lead midway through the half. Raphinha's precise cross from the left found Fermín López, who headed past Mamardashvili to give Barcelona the lead.
Barcelona's lead didn't last long as Marc-André ter Stegen's error allowed Valencia back into the game. Ter Stegen's sliced clearance fell to Duro, who rolled the ball into the empty net. Ronald Araújo's foul on Gonzalez then led to a penalty, which Pepelu converted to put Valencia ahead.
Despite Araújo hitting the post just before halftime, more drama followed in the second half. Mamardashvili's mistake outside the box resulted in a red card, leaving Barcelona with ten men. However, they quickly turned the game around as İlkay Gündoğan's corner was flicked on by Lewandowski and into the net.
With a man advantage, Barcelona pressed forward relentlessly. Lewandowski capitalized on a mistake from Valencia's substitute goalkeeper, Jaume Doménech, to put Barcelona back in front. The victory was sealed in stoppage time as Lewandowski completed his hat-trick with a curling free-kick beyond Doménech.
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