Barcelona Rout Villarreal However Marc-Andre Ter Stegen Harm, Atletico Madrid Draw At Rayo

Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha struck twice every as La Liga leaders Barcelona romped to a 5-1 win at Villarreal on Sunday however have been left fearing a “huge” knee damage to goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen. Atletico Madrid, fourth, have been held to a 1-1 draw at metropolis rivals Rayo Vallecano as Conor Gallagher netted his second objective for the Rojiblancos. Barcelona’s sixth league triumph in six video games was marred by Ter Stegen being taken off on a stretcher after falling awkwardly having collected a cross, with early reviews suggesting he may miss the remainder of the season.

“I think it will be a huge injury, when he laid down on the field… you can see it directly,” Barcelona coach Hansi Flick advised DAZN.

Lewandowski netted Barcelona’s first two objectives and later missed a penalty in a completely entertaining battle on Spain’s east coast at Villarreal’s Estadio de la Ceramica.

Ayoze Perez pulled his staff again into the sport shortly earlier than half-time and the beforehand unbeaten hosts had two objectives disallowed, with Pablo Torre and Raphinha’s strikes cementing Barcelona’s victory.

After second-placed Real Madrid thrashed Espanyol 4-1 on Saturday the Catalans have been capable of restore a four-point lead on the champions.

“It’s very important for us that we played a game away from home, we scored five goals and in the end we have three points,” stated Lewandowski.

“In the end it doesn’t matter how, as long as we win that’s perfect.”

Flick gave Eric Garcia one other begin in defensive midfield regardless of his early crimson card towards Monaco within the Champions League midweek defeat.

The German coach additionally began reserve staff gamers Gerard Martin and Sergi Dominguez, in addition to playmaker Torre rather than the injured Dani Olmo.

Teenage star Lamine Yamal hit the put up early on earlier than Lewandowski slotted residence within the twentieth minute after Torre slipped him in.

Villarreal goalkeeper Diego Conde did properly to maintain out a bundled effort from the Polish striker however Lewandowski pounced after 35 minutes for his second.

Conde saved Garcia’s header properly however the former Bayern Munich hitman transformed the rebound with an acrobatic end from shut vary.

It was his sixth La Liga objective of the season, taking him two away from Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe in Spain’s golden boot race.

‘Special individual’

Villarreal have been regularly threatening on the counter and Perez gave them a lifeline after the electrical Nicolas Pepe set him up.

Ter Stegen thwarted Pepe with a sensational save one-on-one earlier than half-time however the German Barca captain was quickly stricken as he fell badly after catching a nook earlier than the break and was changed by Inaki Pena.

Pepe completed brilliantly early within the second half however his effort was disallowed for a marginal offside name, and Yeremy Pino hit the bar with a header as Marcelino Garcia Toral’s aspect drove Barcelona again.

Torre prolonged Barca’s lead with a deflected strike from the sting of the field, a killer blow given Villarreal’s momentum.

Lewandowski hit the put up from the spot after Eric Bailly scythed down Yamal and Villarreal’s Thierno Barry had a objective dominated out for offside.

Raphinha ended any hopes of a house comeback, first with a deflected shot after which ending after an outstanding Yamal go left him with simply Conde to beat.

“(Ter Stegen) is a very special and important person in the dressing room, this victory is 100 percent for him,” Raphinha advised DAZN.

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois wrote Ter Stegen a message on social media platform X.

“It hurt me a lot to see you leave the pitch like that,” wrote the Belgian stopper.

“I hope you can recover soon and we see you again in goal.”

In a Madrid derby conflict Diego Simeone’s unbeaten Atletico couldn’t discover a well past Rayo Vallecano.

Rayo’s Isi Palazon slammed residence from shut vary after 35 minutes and the objective was finally given after initially being dominated offside.

However Gallagher completed neatly from the sting of the field early within the second half when Alexander Sorloth fed the England worldwide.

“(At half-time Simeone) told us we all had to run, these days anyone who is not running here cannot play,” Atletico captain Koke advised Movistar.

“We had chances to get the winner but it wasn’t to be.”

Athletic Bilbao overtook Atletico to maneuver into third with a 3-1 win towards Celta Vigo.

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