Barcelona overturned an early setback caused by goalkeeper Joan García’s blunder to secure a 3-1 win at promoted Oviedo in the Spanish league on Thursday.
The Catalans fell behind in the 33rd minute when García, venturing outside the area, misplaced a clearance that fell to Alberto Reina, who struck from nearly 35 meters to score his first top-flight goal.
Barcelona responded strongly after the break. Eric García equalized in the 56th minute, converting after Ferran Torres’ effort came off the post. Substitute Robert Lewandowski headed in the go-ahead goal from a Frenkie de Jong cross in the 70th, and Ronald Araujo sealed victory with another header late in the 88th.
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The win marked Barcelona’s fifth in six matches, keeping them two points behind leaders Real Madrid, who maintained a perfect record with a 4-1 victory over Levante.
Coach Hansi Flick downplayed the goalkeeping error, saying, “He made one mistake, but we came back and won, which is what matters.”
Oviedo, back in La Liga after two decades, has now lost five of its six matches despite veteran Santi Cazorla’s leadership.
Source: Agency