In a night where the stakes were high, FC Barcelona delivered a commanding performance to dispatch Brest 3-0 at the Estadi Olimpic. Thus securing crucial points in their Champions League campaign.
From the onset, Barcelona displayed their intent to dominate. The match saw its first pivotal moment in the 9th minute. Robert Lewandowski was brought down by Brest’s goalkeeper Marco Bizot inside the box. Lewandowski converted the resulting penalty. Thus marking his 100th Champions League goal by sending Bizot the wrong way. Then, calmly slotting the ball into the bottom-right corner. This milestone placed him among the elite, becoming the third player to achieve this feat in the competition’s history.
Despite the early lead, Barcelona didn’t sit back. Fermin Lopez came close to doubling the lead in the 40th minute with a powerful header. But Bizot was up to the task, showcasing his reflexes with a remarkable save.
The first half ended with Barcelona leading 1-0. But the stats painted a picture of utter dominance, illustrated by their 77.6% possession and eight shots. Meanwhile, Brest failed to register a single shot on target.
Second Half
Barcelona’s pressure continued unabated in the second half. In the 54th minute, another brilliant save from Bizot denied Lopez again. However, the resistance broke in the 66th minute when Dani Olmo dazzled inside the box, navigating through Brest’s defense to slot home after receiving a slick pass from Gerard Martín.
Brest thought they had pulled one back in the 78th minute through Pierre Lees-Melou, but his effort was disallowed for offside, continuing Barcelona’s defensive vigilance.
The match was put beyond doubt in the dying moments when Lewandowski grabbed his second of the night and his 23rd of the season. Alejandro Balde made a surging run down the left before cutting back to Lewandowski, who, despite being off-balance, managed to steer the ball into the bottom corner to seal a 3-0 victory.
This win propels Barcelona to second in their Champions League group, setting up a tantalizing fixture against Borussia Dortmund next. Tonight’s result not only reaffirmed Barcelona’s credentials as one of the favorites for the Champions League but also served as a stark reminder of their resilience and tactical prowess under Hansi Flick.
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