Robert Lewandowski helps maintain Barcelona’s perfect start to LaLiga campaign

Robert Lewandowksi continued his match-winning start to his LaLiga season as Barcelona overcame Athletic Bilbao 2-1.

Lewandowski scored both goals in an opening 2-1 victory at Valencia and – after being denied by the woodwork twice against Bilbao – was on hand to drill home the 75th-minute winner from Pedri’s cross.

Lamine Yamal had fired Barcelona ahead in the first half, only for the 17-year-old’s effort to be cancelled out by Oihan Sancet’s penalty just before the break.

Hansi Flick’s first home game as Barcelona was notable in the early stages for several players losing their footing on the Montjuic surface.

Barcelona forward Ferran Torres skipped past a couple of Bilbao defenders to register the first attempt on goal, which Alex Padilla duly handled comfortably.

Padilla’s next task was to collect a Raphina volley after Pedri had floated a lovely pass over the Bilbao defence and the goalkeeper was almost instantly rewarded at the other end.

Nico Williams, who was linked with a transfer to Barcelona this summer, sped past Pau Cubarsi, but Jules Kounde positioned himself well to block the goal-bound effort.

Barcelona went ahead after 24 minutes when Padilla’s punch from a free-kick fell to Yamal outside the penalty area.

Yamal worked the ball onto his left foot and his powerful drive was deflected out of Padilla’s reach by the head of Inigo Lekue.

Williams’ instant response was to curl just wide, but Barcelona almost doubled their lead as Lewandowski raced onto Raphina’s pass and struck the frame of the goal.

Bilbao wanted a penalty when Alex Berenguer tumbled in the box and Barcelona asked the same question within 30 seconds after Lewandowski went to ground following a rapid counter-attack.

Referee Valentin Pizarro Gomez was summoned to the VAR monitor to study Cubarsi’s challenge on Berenguer, and it was clear that the Bilbao midfielder had been fouled.

Sancet stepped up to send Marc-Andre ter Stegen the wrong way for his second goal in as many games after scoring in the opening-day draw against Getafe.

Lewandowski hit the post for a second time from Raphina’s free-kick, the Poland international no doubt disappointed that he could not convert a free header from six yards.

Sancet’s mishit cross tested Ter Stegen but Barcelona were asking most of the questions in the second period, and Padilla made a fine save to deny Lewandowski from point-blank range.

But Lewandowski was not to be denied and the veteran pounced after Padilla had pushed Pedri’s cross straight into his path 12 yards out.

The game ended amid some acrimony after Ander Herrera’s late challenge on Cubarsi produced pushing and shoving from both sets of players.