The Pole's brace helped fire the visitors to an incredible win
Robert Lewandowski's brace early in the second half inspired Barcelona to a famous 4-0 win at the Santiago Bernabeu to send them six points clear in La Liga.
It was clear from the start that tactics were going to play a big part in this one, with Hansi Flick's high defensive line catching Madrid offside seven times in the opening 30 minutes alone. That included a goal for Kylian Mbappe being chalked off. There was a similar moment at 2-0 in the second half.
The space in behind the back four was a source of potential danger to Barca. But they were able to create their own chances, with a one-on-one for Lamine Yamal and a strike from distance from Pedri, both saved by Andriy Lunin, the closest they came to scoring before half-time.
Where Barca had been able to routinely catch Madrid offside, Lewandowski beat the trap 10 minutes into the second half and stroked the ball into the bottom corner beyond the reach of Lunin. He showcased his generational striker instincts only two minutes later when he planted an unstoppable header into the same corner. This, after mostly being on periphery until then.
The foot of the post denied the Pole his hat-trick, in isolation a poor miss with an open goal at his mercy after a square pass from Raphinha, but it mattered little when Yamal slammed in a stunning third and a route one ball over the top handed Raphinha a fourth.
GOAL rates Barcelona's players from the Bernabeu…
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Inaki Pena (8/10):
A little erratic. Positioning and distribution not always brilliant, but made two huge saves to deny Mbappe in the second half.
Jules Kounde (7/10):
Had his work cut out against Vinicius Junior. No match for the Brazilian's movement or pace, yet he was well in tune with the rest of the back four when it came to triggering the offside trap.
Pau Cubarsi (7/10):
The space in behind him and Kounde was a concern in the first half more than the second. Clean in his passing.
Inigo Martinez (7/10):
Seemed to have his side of the back four a little more locked down, despite the threat of Mbappe.
Alejandro Balde (7/10):
It was a beautifully flighted cross that set up Barcelona's second goal. Got forward well on other occasions.
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Marc Casado (8/10):
Took a first half booking for the good for a tactical foul on Vinicius Jr. to stop a breakaway. It was necessary dirty work, but he also did the other side of game well with a defence-splitting pass that set up the breakthrough goal.
Fermin Lopez (4/10):
Given the nod in the big game over summer signing Dani Olmo, but hardly saw the ball and didn't return after half-time.
Pedri (7/10):
Got a nasty bang to the ankle midway through the first half but it didn't seem to really affect him.
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Lamine Yamal (8/10):
Lost the battle of wits with Lunin in the one-on-one situation. Looked lively in general but things didn't fully click into place for him until his sensational goal late on.
Robert Lewandowski (9/10):
Found himself waiting for service to come but then buried his first clear sight of goal. Got his second mere moments later by taking up a position between the centre-backs where neither could get to him.
Raphinha (8/10):
Quieter than recent weeks for 75 minutes but made it five straight games across all competitions with at least two goal involvements by setting up Yamal and scoring himself.
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Frenkie de Jong (6/10):
Appeared at the break for his longest appearance of the season so far.
Dani Olmo (6/10):
Eventually appeared in place of Casado just over an hour in.
Gavi (6/10):
Replaced Pedri late on.
Hansi Flick (9/10):
The high defensive line and offside trap was such a risky tactic given the pace of the Real forwards. But it absolutely worked and this will go down as a famous Barcelona win.
