Robert Lewandowski scores twice as Barcelona hammer Red Star Belgrade

Robert Lewandowski fired a double as Barcelona completed an emphatic 5-2 Champions League win against Red Star Belgrade in Serbia.

The Poland striker struck in either half after Red Star forward Silas had cancelled out Inigo Martinez’s early header, before further goals from Raphinha and Fermin Lopez.

Felicio Milson curled home a late consolation for Red Star, but they have lost all four matches in the competition and sit second-bottom in the table.

Barca have now won their last three after an opening defeat in Monaco and climbed up to sixth after their seventh straight win in all competitions.

Red Star, who had lost their three previous Champions League ties this season to Bodo/Glimt, Benfica and Inter Milan, had an early effort from Slovenia midfielder Timi Elsnik ruled out for offside.

But Barca quickly found their groove and centre-half Martinez headed them into a 13th-minute lead from Raphinha’s excellent free-kick.

Raphinha, hat-trick hero in Barca’s 4-1 defeat of Bayern Munich in the previous round of matches, blazed over from Lamine Yamal’s defence-splitting pass.

That was Barca’s ninth attempt at goal in the opening 24 minutes, but three minutes later, and out of nowhere, Silas fired Red Star level.

The DR Congo forward raced clear on to Rade Krunic’s through-ball and dinked a superb finish over Barca goalkeeper Inaki Pena.

Red Star were visibly lifted, but Barca regained the lead shortly before half-time through Lewandowski’s 18th goal in 16 appearances in all competitions this season and his 98th Champions League goal.

After Yamal had zig-zagged into the box, Pedri teed up Raphinha and after his low shot struck a post, Lewandowski pounced to turn home the rebound.

Barca resumed their dominance after the restart as Pedri and Lewandowski both threatened before the latter steered a golden chance wide from in front of goal from Raphinha’s inch-perfect cut-back.

But two goals in as many minutes put the game beyond Red Star.

Lewandowski turned the ball home at the far post off his thigh after a cross from Jules Kounde, who then provided the assist for Raphinha to arrow his 12th goal of the season in all competitions into the bottom corner.

Kounde completed a hat-trick of assists for Fermin to shoot low into the bottom corner from inside the area.

Milson’s superb curling effort in the 84th minute gave the home fans something to cheer before Barca substitute Fermin hit the crossbar with an angled drive in the closing stages.