Cadiz 0-4 Barcelona: What Did We Learn As Robert Lewandowski Fires Barca To The Top Of The La Liga Table?

Looking to build off of their Champions League romp from earlier in the week, Barcelona cruised their way to a 4-0 victory away at Cadiz on Saturday evening.

Spearheaded by attacking talisman and summer arrival Robert Lewandowski, Xavi’s side also managed to briefly find a route to the top of the La Liga table.

Making the trip to the Nuevo Mirandilla coming off the back of their 5-1 win against Viktoria Plzeň in midweek, the Spanish giants appear to find the mood in their camp at a red-hot high.

With Lewandowski, Frenkie de Jong, Ansu Fati and Ousmane Dembele all getting themselves on the scoresheet here, there is no doubt that both Real Madrid and Atletico would have taken note.

Piling more pressure onto a Cadiz side that have only continued to show a string of issues since opening the 2022/23 campaign, what did we learn from Saturday’s showdown in Andalusia?

Barca are a serious title contender

Only continuing to deal with a host of public financial issues over the past 12 months, many across Spain were wondering if Barcelona would be in shape to mount a serious title charge this season.

Eventually finishing 13 points adrift of defending champions Los Blancos, Xavi has seen his side come flying out of the traps this time around.

While the European giants might have opened the 2022/23 campaign with a 0-0 stalemate against Rayo Vallecano on August 13th, Barca have certainly proven that was just a minor blip.

Only laying down another marker on Saturday evening as they breezed their way to a routine 4-0 romp at the Nuevo Mirandilla, Xavi’s superstars also found a route back to the top of the La Liga table.

With their high-profile summer arrivals really making an immediate impact since arriving in Catalonia, Barcelona certainly have the feel of a side riding a real wave.

Showing quite the clinical edge in the final third, Saturday’s guests have proven that they have more than enough to be considered a genuine challenger to Madrid’s crown.

There is no stopping Lewandowski

While Barcelona might have shocked many as they welcomed the likes of Jules Kounde, Raphinha, Andreas Christensen and Franck Kessié to the Nou Camp this summer, it is Lewandowski’s arrival that has stolen most of the headlines.

Making the decision to end his glittering eight-year stay with German heavyweights Bayern Munich, the Polish icon has played a crucial role in Barca’s stellar start to the new campaign.

Appearing to be the new face of Xavi’s revolution, Lewandowski put in another monumental display on Saturday evening, despite having to initially settle for a spot on the bench.

Bagging his sixth La Liga strike of the season just eight minutes after coming on, the 132-cap international also helped himself to a pair of second-half assists for both Fati and Dembele’s late strikes.

Opening up his Champions League account earlier in the week with a hat-trick against Viktoria Plzeň, Lewandowski really couldn’t have wished for a better immediate impact in Catalonia.

Now racking up nine goals across all competitions from his opening six appearances, the ex-Bayern icon also appears to be a leading pick for this year’s Golden Boot.

Cadiz – Spain’s leading relegation contender

While Cadiz might have clung to their La Liga status back in May thanks to a one-point buffer, it appears that Los Piratas are almost destined for another relegation scrap this time around.

Failing to ask any questions of the Spanish giants here, Head Coach Sergio González finds mounting pressure on his shoulders at the Nuevo Mirandilla.

Opening up the new campaign with a 1-0 loss at home against Real Sociedad on August 14th, the Yellows have now lost each of their opening five domestic appearances so far.

Sat rock-bottom of the table and in the midst of what is becoming a real nightmare in Andalusia, the ex-Real Valladolid boss will have a huge headache over his side’s glaring struggles at both ends of the pitch.

On a woeful start that is highlighted by back-to-back 4-0 and 3-0 defeats at the hands of Athletic Bilbao and Celta Vigo, Cadiz are also yet to bag a single strike since opening the 2022/23 campaign.

Without a single point or goal to their name, it is hard to argue that González’s downbeat squad are not La Liga’s leading relegation contender this season.

Match Report:

Cadiz: Ledesma, Zaldua, Hernandez, Mbaye, Espino, Fernandez, Fede, Alejo, Sobrino, Ocampo, Perez

Subs: Alcaraz, Bongonda, Alarcon, Mabil, Negredo

Barcelona: Ter Stegen, Bellerin, Araujo, Pique, Balde, Gavi, Busquets, de Jong, Torres, Depay, Raphinha

Subs: Lewandowski, Alonso, Fati

Goals: de Jong (55′), Lewandowski (65′), Fati (86′), Dembele (90+2′)

Yellow Cards: Cadiz: Perez – Barcelona: Raphinha, Busquets

Red Cards: N/A

Referee: Carlos del Cerro Grande