Staff Reporter.
Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski scored a second-half hat-trick to help his side fight back to claim a hard-fought 4-2 win over Valencia, who were leading 2-1 when they were reduced to 10 men just before the break.
The hosts, who are on the cusp of relinquishing the La Liga title to Real Madrid despite the victory, took the lead when Fermin Lopez struck.
Hudo Duro soon levelled then Pepelu’s penalty gave Valencia the lead.
But they had Mamardashvili sent off just before half-time and the 35-year-old Poland striker took full advantage.
Lewandowski equalised early in the second half with a header then nodded in a rebound before getting his third from a free-kick in added time.
The win postponed Real Madrid’s almost inevitable LaLiga title celebrations for a couple of weeks as Carlo Ancelotti’s side sit atop the standings on 84 points.
Barcelona moved back to second in LaLiga on Monday with 73 points as they leapfrogged surprise package Girona, who are third with 71. Those two teams will meet in a Catalonia derby on Saturday.
Valencia stay eighth and face a battle to qualify for Europe next season as they lie four points behind sixth-place Real Sociedad.