Barcelona beat Red Star Belgrade in Champions League

In-form Barcelona beat Red Star Belgrade 5-2 on Wednesday to continue in the Champions League group stage after Robert Lewandowski scored twice. Inigo Martinez, Raphinha, and Fermin Lopez scored as Barcelona triumphed handily in Serbia. The veteran striker reached 99 career goals in the competition.

Hansi Flick’s team won their eighth consecutive across all competitions after defeating Bayern Munich 4-1 in Europe. Barcelona scored at least three times in each game in that winning streak and were deadly at Rajko Mitic.

“Obviously we are doing things very well, and many of them are being seen and reflected in our play, but there are certain things that I can tell you, as a defender, we’re suffering in,” Martinez added.

“When the team drops (in focus) that little bit in the end… if we can improve that, I think we can be a great team and now we can enjoy this victory.”

Barcelona started Frenkie de Jong for the first time since April after he returned from injury, but Flick generally played his first-choice team.

The German coach’s high defensive line has vexed Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in recent weeks, and Red Star had a goal called out for offside after four minutes. Elsnik finished after breaking in behind the defense, but he was past the last defender.

Martinez headed home Raphinha’s dangerous free-kick after 13 minutes to give Barcelona the lead. The Brazilian winger should have scored the second but shot over after Lamine Yamal’s pass brought him in on goal and struck the post from a corner kick.

Red Star stunned La Liga leaders Barca in the 27th minute when Silas beat the offside trap and beat Inaki Pena. In a rare rotation, Gerard Martin started at left-back instead of Alejandro Balde and played the Congolese forward onside.

Scoring goals

After Raphinha’s low drive hit the post, Lewandowski finished the rebound to put Barcelona ahead soon before halftime. The 36-year-old missed a chance to add another when Raphinha set him up, but he scored his second from close range after 53 minutes when Jules Kounde crossed.

The Polish striker scored his 19th goal of the season in 16 matches and fifth in four European games. Only Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have scored more in the competition than Lewandowski, one short of a century.

Raphinha scored the fourth with a low shot from the edge of the area after Kounde’s work. Barcelona’s 17-year-old centre-back Pau Cubarsi was substituted when a high boot cut him close below his eye, a rare setback.

Flick remarked after the game, “He’s laughing, he’s got stitches, but he’s young,” indicating the defender was not gravely harmed. Kounde finished his hat-trick by passing to substitute Fermin Lopez, who scored the team’s fifth goal past Marko Ilic.

Milson scored another goal for the hosts with a curling finish past Inaki Pena to provide light relief. Lopez hit the bar late as Barcelona scored five goals for the fourth time this season and 55 in 16 matches across all competitions.

“We always can improve, but I’m really happy,” Flick told Movistar. “They played good, were good with the ball, and also we pressed them and it’s good to see that.”