BarcelonaSergi Roberto on target twice in hard-fought 3-2 home winBayern win 2-1 at Wolfsburg, leaders Leverkusen march on
Reuters
Wed 20 Dec 2023 22.08 CET
Two second-half goals from Sergi Roberto rescued a 3-2 home win for Barcelona against bottom side Almería in La Liga on Wednesday.
Barcelona dominated the first half but squandered the vast majority of their 15 chances – five of them on target. Raphinha did put the hosts in front in the 33rd minute, netting a rebound from close range, after Luís Maximiano had saved Ronald Araújo’s header from a corner.
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The visitors equalised shortly before half-time when Leo Baptistão scored with a chipped finish. The Brazilian’s goal was initially ruled out for offside but the referee reversed his decision after a VAR check. Level at the break, Barça were at risk of extending their three-game winless run in all competitions.
Roberto restored their lead on the hour, nodding home a corner, but Almería, who are winless in the league and nine points from safety, levelled again 11 minutes later as Edgar González pounced on Iñaki Peña’s error. With time running out, Roberto struck again to earn victory, nutmegging Maximiano from close range.
Barcelona move back above Atlético Madrid into third place heading into the winter break, but are six points behind the leaders Girona and four adrift of second-placed Real Madrid, who both have a game in hand.
Bayer Leverkusen go into the Bundesliga’s winter recess in top spot after Patrik Schick’s first-half hat-trick set up a 4-0 victory against Bochum. Xabi Alonso’s unbeaten side took half an hour to make the breakthrough from Schick’s penalty, but the Czech striker quickly added a second from Jérémie Frimpong’s low cross.
Schick struck again just before half-time, heading home Álex Grimaldo’s corner. Leverkusen added a fourth goal through the substitute Victor Boniface in the 69th minute, and stay four points clear of Bayern Munich, who have a game in hand, after the Bavarians ground out a 2-1 win at Wolfsburg.
Jamal Musiala fired Thomas Tuchel’s side into the lead after a pinpoint cross from Thomas Müller in the 33rd minute. Harry Kane made it two before half-time, firing into the top corner for his 21st league goal of the season. Maximilian Arnold pulled one back for the hosts, and forced a late save from Manuel Neuer as Bayern held on.
Stuttgart kept up their push for a Champions League place with an impressive 3-0 home victory against Augsburg, with Denis Undav and Serhou Guirassy on target. Union Berlin boosted their survival hopes with a 2-0 home win against Colognethanks to goals from Benedict Hollerbach and David Datro Fonana in either half.
Eintracht Frankfurt produced a late turnaround to beat 10-man Mönchengladbach 2-1. Max Wöber put Gladbach ahead before being sent off with two minutes to go, and Eintracht struck through Buta and the on-loan Leeds defender Robin Koch in stoppage time. Promoted Heidenheim also scored two late goals to beat Freiburg 3-2 and move into the top half of the table.
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2023-12-20 23:36:00
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