Barcelona player ratings vs Alaves: Robert Lewandowski is red hot! Hat-trick hero fires Blaugrana to easy La Liga win

Robert Lewandowski was the star of the show for Barcelona as the prolific Pole netted a first-half hat-trick in a comfortable 3-0 victory at Alaves on Sunday that keeps Hansi Flick’s side three points clear at the top of La Liga.

Blaugrana captain Raphinha, who has been in dazzling form of late, was also at his mercurial best as the Brazilian playmaker pulled the strings for Barca, and the South American thought that he had opened the scoring inside four minutes, but his effort was chalked off as teenage wonderkid Lamine Yamal strayed marginally offside in the build-up.

Barca lost Ferran Torres to an early injury, but took the lead in the seventh minute when Lewandowski glanced home a Raphinha free-kick – taking him to 50 goals in total for the Catalan giants in La Liga. Lewandowski grabbed his second in the 22nd minute, when being teed up by Raphinha again for a tap-in, and claimed another match ball just past the half-hour mark when rolling into the bottom corner after being played through by Eric Garcia.

Alaves did pose a threat during lapses in Barca’s concentration – with VAR ruling out one effort on the stroke of half-time, before the woodwork was struck early in the second 45. Flick, though, was able to rest Yamal during the second half, with the visitors easing to a comfortable win.

GOAL rates Barcelona’s players from Mendizorroza…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Inaki Pena (5/10):

  Looked shaky when called into action and will lose his place to Szczesny once the Pole – who has stepped out of retirement – is cleared to provide cover for the injured Ter Stegen.

  Hector Fort (7/10):

  Came into the starting XI as Kounde was handed a well-earned break and did enough to prevent much of a threat being posed down his flank.

  Pau Cubarsi (6/10):

  While Barcelona look to be full of goals, the amount of space that they afford opponents at the back – particularly when playing a high line – will be a source of concern.

  Inigo Martinez (6/10):

  Did not have that much to do, but got caught under a couple of crosses into the box and will be aware of the need to become more dominant.

  Alejandro Balde (6/10):

  Likes to get forward, which can drag him out of position at times and leave space for runners in behind.

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    Midfield

    Raphinha (9/10):

    Has taken on the captaincy following the injury to Ter Stegen and appears ready to leave by example after registering two more assists and generally having Alaves on strings.

    Marc Casado (6/10):

    Happy to sit and provide cover in front of the back four, with the promising La Masia academy graduate benefiting from the regular game time that he is currently being afforded.

    Pedri (6/10):

    Always assured in possession, but will believe that he should have got on the scoresheet after scuffing a close range effort wide of the post towards the end of the first half.

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      Attack

      Lamine Yamal (7/10):

      The youngster had his box of tricks with him, as his dancing feet delivered the odd nutmeg while tying defenders in knots, but he was not required to provide another moment of match-altering brilliance before being replaced.

      Ferran Torres (N/A):

      Lasted less than five minutes before being forced from the field with a hamstring injury.

      Robert Lewandowski (10/10):

      Has passed a half-century of goals in La Liga and will believe that there are many more to come – with a collection of typically clinical finishes adding another match ball to his collection.

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      Subs & Manager

      Eric Garcia (7/10):

      Asked to operate in midfield after replacing the stricken Torres and put himself about before providing the assist for Lewandowski’s hat-trick strike.

      Ansu Fati (6/10):

      Eager to impress, with Yamal well ahead of him in the pecking order, but never really got going.

      Jules Kounde (6/10):

      Stepped back in for Font and helped to wrap up a clean sheet.

      Frenkie de Jong (5/10):

      First La Liga minutes of the season for the Dutch midfielder, who will hope to figure prominently in the weeks to come.

      Gerard Martin (5/10):

      Another player of considerable promise that will benefit from the game time coming his way.

      Hansi Flick (7/10):

      Has to keep getting creative with his selections, as fitness issues stack up, but got all of the big decisions right and will hope to have a couple of senior stars back after the international break.