Barcelona 3-2 Almeria: Sergi Roberto double spares Barca blushes against winless La Liga bottom club
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Updated 20/12/2023 at 23:37 GMT
Barcelona ended a three-match winless run in all competitions with a battling victory over La Liga's bottom club Almeria. Raphinha fired Barca in front before Leo Baptistao's equaliser. Sergi Roberto made it 2-1 before Edgar Gonzalez levelled again for the determined strugglers. However, they couldn't respond to Roberto's second as the Spaniard's winner secured three valuable points.
Sergi Roberto of FC Barcelona celebrates after scoring the team's third goal during the LaLiga EA Sports match between FC Barcelona and UD Almeria at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on December 20, 2023 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Image
Image credit: Getty Images
Sergi Roberto was the two-goal hero as Barcelona ended their winless streak by edging out a stubborn Almeria 3-2 at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.
La Liga’s bottom side, who are yet to win a match this season, twice came from behind to level at 2-2, but the Barca skipper struck his second goal seven minutes from time to give the hosts their first victory in four attempts.
Barcelona, who had controlled large periods of the first half, took a 33rd-minute lead as Raphinha blasted into the empty net after Luis Maximiano kept out Ronald Araujo’s header.
But the visitors responded eight minutes later as Leo Baptistao raced away to draw them level, with the goal initially ruled offside but eventually awarded following a VAR check.
The hosts regained their advantage on the hour mark when Roberto brilliantly headed in Raphinha’s corner.
However, an Inaki Pena error - the goalkeeper dropping Sergio Arribas' free-kick after colliding with Araujo - allowed Edgar Gonzalez to equalise in the 71st minute.
Nevertheless, Barca stole all three points with seven minutes remaining as Roberto latched onto Robert Lewandowski’s clever throughball into the penalty area, before slotting past Maximiano from close range.
Talking Point - Captain Roberto to the rescue for Barca
Barcelona arrived in their final match of 2023 without a win in three games. Xavi's side had suffered successive defeats against La Liga leaders Girona and Royal Antwerp in the UEFA Champions League, before Valencia held them to a 1-1 draw last weekend.
Nevertheless, the hosts were expected to end that streak against a side still yet to register a victory this term and nine points from safety at the foot of the table.
Almeria had clearly not read the script, though, as they dug deep and held their own against their opponents, twice coming from behind in the process.
However, Sergi Roberto stood up and made himself count for Barca. The skipper brilliantly lost his marker to head home the hosts' second goal, before another tremendous run allowed him to collect Lewandowski's lofted pass and slide in what proved to be the winner.
Player of the Match - Sergi Roberto (Barcelona)
The skipper led by example for the hosts with his two goals from a game-high three shots. He also gained possession the joint-most times during the contest (eight, level with Iddrisu Baba).
Player Ratings
BARCELONA: Inaki Pena 6, Cancelo 7, Araujo 6, Christensen 4, Balde 7, Roberto 9*, Gundogan 7, Fermin Lopez 6, Raphinha 8, Lewandowski 7, Joao Felix 4. Subs: Kounde 6, Ferran Torres 8, Romeu 6, Yamal 5.
ALMERIA: Maximiano 7, Pozo 5, Chumi 6, Montes 5, Gonzalez 7, Akieme 6, Arribas 7, Lopy 6, Ramazani 6, Baba 6, Baptistao 7. Subs: Mendes 6, Embarba 5, Lazaro 5.
Match Highlights
33' - GOAL! BARCELONA 1-0 ALMERIA (RAPHINHA): Araujo meets Gundogan's corner with a header that Inaki Pena can only parry straight to Raphinha, who thumps the ball into the empty net from three yards out.
41' - GOAL! BARCELONA 1-1 ALMERIA (BAPTISTAO): Baptistao latches onto Arribas' throughball and races away before neatly lifting over the advancing Inaki Pena. Following a consultation with VAR, the referee overturns his initial offside ruling and gives the goal.
60' - GOAL! BARCELONA 2-1 ALMERIA (SERGI ROBERTO): Wonderful movement from the skipper sees him lose his marker and meet Raphina's corner at the near post, before beating Maximiano with a wonderful glancing header.
71' - GOAL! BARCELONA 2-2 ALMERIA (EDGAR GONZALEZ): It is a howler for Inaki Pena! The Barca goalkeeper comes to collect Arribas' free-kick, but drops the ball as he collides with Araujo. Gonzalez reacts quicker than anyone else to slide the ball into the empty net.
83' - GOAL! BARCELONA 3-2 ALMERIA (SERGI ROBERTO): The captain grabs his second goal of the game as he latches onto Lewandowski's delightful lofted throughball, before neatly slotting past Maximiano.
87' - GREAT SAVE BY INAKI PENA: The Barca goalkeeper atones for his earlier error, producing a magnificent reflex save to keep out Baba's header from point-blank range.
90+3' - OFF THE BAR: Looking for a hat-trick, Sergi Roberto darts into the box and unleashes a fierce left-footed shot from a tight angle. He is very unlucky to see his attempt crash against the woodwork.
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