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STATS Perform/dpaPedri heaped praise on Robert Lewandowski after the Barcelona striker scored twice in a 4-1 win against Real Sociedad to open his La Liga account.On the back of a frustrating goalless draw against Rayo Vallecano on the opening weekend, the former Bayern Munich frontman opened the scoring with just 44 seconds on the clock.Aleksander Isak equalised for La Real, who had chances to take the lead, before the introduction of Ansu Fati in the second half inspired Barcelona to their first win of the campaign.Fati provided the assist for Ousmane Dembele to fire Xavi’s side ahead, then combined with Lewandowski for the striker’s second before the favour was returned for Fati to score Barcelona’s fourth of the night.The win brings an end to a three-match winless streak for Barcelona, stretching back to last season, and, while Lewandowski’s efforts came on his 34th birthday, Pedri made it clear he appears far more youthful.“Even though he’s 34, he looks like he’s 20. It’s crazy how many goals he scores and, above all, how he works for the team, he helps us a lot,” Pedri told Movistar after the match.Barcelona’s win came after a less than inspiring performance in the first half. Xavi’s changes proved to be decisive, while the head coach believes the win reinforces the style in which his team want to play.“We talked at half-time that we had to attack the spaces more,” Xavi said. “Last week was a blow and this victory reinforces us because this is about insisting and wanting. At times we have played well, at others not so much when we have lost control and complicated things for ourselves.”Lewandowski opened his account for Barcelona after just 44 seconds.Aleksander Isak wasted no time in equalising for the hosts, who forced Marc Andre Ter Stegen into some fine saves and saw a second-half goal ruled out for offside.Ansu Fati provided the inspiration to end Barcelona’s three-game streak without a win, coming off the bench to provide two assists in six minutes - Ousmane Dembele and Lewandowski the beneficiaries.The Spaniard then added his name to the scoresheet after Lewandowski returned the favour, coolly slotting home to ensure all three points would come to Catalonia.Barcelona’s barren streak of 360 minutes without a goal came to an abrupt end, Lewandowski steering home after Alejandro Balde led a counter-attack for the visitors to celebrate his birthday with his first La Liga goal.The hosts took just five minutes to respond though, Frenkie de Jong dispossessed in midfield and David Silva feeding through Isak - who saw his finish loft over the head of Marc Andre ter Stegen after a deflection off Eric Garcia.Seven minutes after the restart, the hosts thought they had taken the lead as Brais Mendez’s free-kick found its way all the way past Ter Stegen but the offside flag was raised as Robin Le Normand impeded the German’s view.Fati provided an immediate impact after his introduction, backheeling into the path of Dembele to drill home into the far corner, then tapping a pass to Lewandowski to make it three.Lewandowski then turned provider for Fati, flicking the ball through for the Spaniard to slot home and guarantee a first win of the season.
