BARCELONA: Ferran Torres scored twice as Barcelona cruised to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Getafe in LaLiga on Sunday, with Dani Olmo adding the third goal and an assist in another impressive display by Hansi Flick’s side at their makeshift home venue.
The win keeps the unbeaten Catalans second in the standings with 13 points, trailing leaders Real Madrid by two points after Los Blancos maintained their flawless record with five wins from five matches by beating Espanyol on Saturday.
Playing in front of 6,000 rain-soaked fans at their Sant Joan Despi training ground, Barcelona controlled proceedings from the outset, showcasing their depth and resilience despite missing Lamine Yamal for the third consecutive game due to injury.
Torres, who got another chance to start in place of Robert Lewandowski in Flick’s rotation policy, opened the scoring after 15 minutes with a brilliant team move, firing past David Soria after Olmo’s clever back-heel set him up perfectly.
The Spanish forward doubled the advantage in the 34th minute, beating the offside trap from Raphinha’s through ball before delivering a tidy finish just inside the left post.
The 25-year-old Spanish international nearly completed his hat-trick before halftime but ended up striking the crossbar with the goal at his mercy after rounding the keeper.
The double takes him to four goals in five games this season, placing him second in the LaLiga scoring charts, just one goal behind Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe.
“I know I can be a starter at Barcelona and I need to take advantage of every opportunity I get. I’m confident many more goals will come,” Torres told DAZN.
“We have quality players who can find space, and we’ve done well in that regard and I’m glad that we won another one in decisive fashion.”
Barcelona continued to dominate after the break, and Marcus Rashford, who was rested following his midweek Champions League heroics against Newcastle, came off the bench to make an immediate impact.
The England international surged down the right flank in the 63rd minute and crossed to Olmo, who scored from inside the box to seal the victory.
The result continued Barca’s strong start to the campaign as they adapt to life at their cramped training ground venue as the renovations of their iconic Camp Nou have fallen nine months behind schedule.
The Lluis Companys Olympic stadium, which has been Barca’s base for the last three years, was not available on Sunday.
Barca’s next test will be an away trip to face Real Oviedo on Thursday, while eighth-placed Getafe will host Alaves on Wednesday.
Torres double helps Barcelona cruise to 3-0 victory over Getafe
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Torres double helps Barcelona cruise to 3-0 victory over Getafe
- Barca’s next test will be an away trip to face Real Oviedo on Thursday
Two own goals save Arsenal blushes against Wolves
LONDON: Arsenal avoided a major embarrassment against Premier League bottom club Wolves on Saturday, benefiting from two own goals — one in stoppage time — to win 2-1 and move five points clear of Manchester City.
Manager Mikel Arteta admitted that his team had struggled to create clear chances and that the win should have been much more comfortable.
But he said that the manner of the victory would give the team a major boost.
“That gives you belief that regardless of how the game goes, you can always find a solution to win it,” he told TNT Sports.
“But now we’re going to have a clean week. We need to start to train certain aspects slowly, because if you don’t train them, you start to deteriorate a little bit.”
Arteta’s men were blunt in the first half, failing to muster a single shot on target as Gabriel Martinelli wasted a clutch of chances.
The Arsenal boss made three changes shortly before the hour mark, bringing on Leandro Trossard, Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino for Martinelli, Eberechi Eze and Martin Zubimendi.
The Gunners mounted wave after wave of attacks, and Declan Rice’s shot midway through the second half — their first on target — was well saved by Sam Johnstone.
But in the 70th minute the sheer weight of pressure told to the enormous relief of an impatient and nervy Emirates crowd.
Johnstone flicked Bukayo Saka’s corner onto a post as he scrambled to reach the ball but it rebounded back onto his arm and into the net for an own goal.
Gabriel Jesus came on for Viktor Gyokores for his first home match after 11 months out injured.
Astonishingly, Wolves pulled level in the 90th minute, when Mateus Mane’s flat cross was headed in by Nigerian striker Tolu Arokodare.
But just as the Arsenal fans contemplated a damaging draw, the Gunners benefited from a second own goal.
Saka delivered a perfect cross which Jesus attacked but the ball was diverted into his own net by Wolves defender Yerson Mosquera.
Winless Wolves, with a ninth league defeat in a row, have mustered just two points from their 16 games so far and are on course for the worst season in Premier League history.
Pep Guardiola’s City travel to in-form Crystal Palace on Sunday seeking to close the gap to Arsenal, who have not won the Premier League since 2004.
