Robert Lewandowski scored twice as Barcelona cruised to a 4-1 win over Girona on Sunday, moving three points clear at the top of La Liga.
After second-placed Real Madrid tied them on points on Saturday with a win against Leganes, Hansi Flick’s team regained the lead at the Olympic Stadium.
Lewandowski responded to Madrid attacker Kylian Mbappe’s double with one of his own, maintaining his three-goal lead in the hunt for Spain’s golden boot.
Barcelona, who had gone unbeaten in 20 games this season, seized the lead late in the first half on an own goal by Ladislav Krejci.
Arnaut Danjuma pulled Girona level, but Lewandowski scored twice and Ferran Torres sealed the victory.
Girona defeated Barcelona twice last season but has struggled to reach such heights again, sitting 13th.
“We played with patience; we had a plan, and if we play with that plan, we can always score a lot of goals and win the game,” Lewandowski told DAZN.
The 36-year-old stated that he had the legs to keep playing for seasons to come.
“I know a lot of people are talking about my age, but… I want to play more years at the top level,” said the Poland international.
“I feel very good physically; I think, looking at the stats, there’s no difference now from a few years ago.”
Flick rotated some of his regular starters in preparation for the Copa del Rey semi-final against Atletico Madrid.
Despite dominating, Barcelona were below their free-flowing best in the first half, threatening only infrequently thanks to the dynamic running of teenage star Lamine Yamal and Fermin Lopez’s furious pace.
Paulo Gazzaniga made a great save from Lopez on the counter-attack after Viktor Tsygankov missed Girona’s first clear chance.
Gazzaniga made excellent saves against Lewandowski and Yamal, who both missed the mark.
Barcelona requested a penalty when Fermin was pulled down by Yaser Asprilla on the edge of the box, and a free kick was awarded.
A VAR review revealed that the collision occurred inside the area, but the referee determined Lopez fouled Asprilla as they collided, much to Barcelona’s dismay.
Gazzaniga made a fantastic save with his fingertips to deny a Ronald Araujo header, but Barcelona broke through before halftime.
Yamal’s dangerous free kick towards Eric Garcia was deflected into his own net by Krejci at the near post.
Girona had done little to stand out in the first half, but Danjuma equalised eight minutes later.
Daley Blind sent the Dutch striker through, and he beat Wojciech Szczesny with a superb low finish.
However, Barcelona quickly regained the lead as La Liga’s leading scorer, Lewandowski, netted his 24th goal of the season.
Lopez nodded the ball across the six-yard box, and Lewandowski twisted his body to catch it and send it between Gazzaniga’s legs.
The forward secured Barcelona’s victory with his 25th goal, which came after substitute Frenkie de Jong drove forward into space and fed him.
Torres had time to add a fourth after Gerard Martin found him and the great Yamal, who bent a shot against the crossbar.
This was the 20th time this season that Flick’s team have scored four or more goals in 45 games, and they are on track for a treble.
“In the first half we had the game under control but lacked the final ball, but in the second half, we played more attacking, made more chances and scored some goals; that’s the most important thing,” added Lewandowski.
