BARCELONA (Reuters) -
In-form Robert Lewandowski has scored again to give Barcelona a 1-0 win at Mallorca in LaLiga.
The hosts were the better side, creating several good opportunities but goalkeeper Marc Andre ter Stegen was flawless, making brilliant saves to deny Jaume Costa, Antonio Sanchez and Kang-In Lee.
Barcelona, however, made the most of what was their only clear scoring opportunity that they had thanks to the genius of Lewandowski.
The Polish striker secured Barca’s points in the 20th minute when he sped into the area, made a brilliant cut inside to clear a defender and slotted the ball to the goalkeeper’s left.
Lewandowski, who joined Barca from Bayern Munich in July, became the first player to score in six consecutive LaLiga weeks since Ruud van Nistelrooy with Real Madrid in the 2006-07 season.
It was the Pole’s ninth goal of the season, and eighth in the league. No player has scored eight goals in his first seven LaLiga games since Christian Vieri with Atletico Madrid in 1997.
Barcelona’s victory lifted them to the top of the table on 19 points, one ahead of Real Madrid who have a game in hand and host Osasuna on Sunday aiming to restore their lead.
Mallorca are 10th in the standings on eight points after seven games.
Barca manager Xavi Hernandez had a major headache in selecting his matchday squad after several key players reported back from international duty nursing injuries.
Xavi gave teenager Ansu Fati his second start of the season and his first in the league. The 19-year-old, fighting his way back from four surgeries to repair an injury to his left knee suffered in late 2020, started the move that led to Barca’s goal, stealing the ball on the left and passing to Lewandowski.
But it was Ter Stegen who was responsible for Barca coming away with a win.
He made a magnificent stop with his right knee in the 35th minute, denying a close range first-touch strike from Jaume Costa.
Mallorca kept pressing after the break and the German keeper was once again there to stop an equaliser, deflecting an Antonio Sanchez shot from inside the box. He showed up again just before the final whistle to deny Kang-In Lee and secure the three points.