Soccer-Lewandowski hat-trick leads Barca to 4-2 win over 10-man Valencia

Soccer Football – LaLiga – FC Barcelona v Valencia – Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, Barcelona, Spain – April 29, 2024 FC Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring their third goal REUTERS/Albert Gea

BARCELONA (Reuters) – Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski scored a hat-trick in the second half to help his side fight back to claim a hard-fought 4-2 win on Monday over visitors Valencia, who were leading 2-1 when they were reduced to 10 men just before the break.

Barca moved back to second in LaLiga on 73 points as they leapfrogged surprise package Girona, who are third with 71. Those two teams will meet in a Catalonia derby on Saturday.

Barcelona’s win postponed for a couple of weeks Real Madrid’s almost inevitable LaLiga title celebrations as Carlo Ancelotti’s side sit atop the standings on 84 points.

Fermin Lopez’s header from a Raphinha cross put Barca in front after 22 minutes but Valencia’s Hugo Duro struck in the 27th and Pepelu scored from the spot after a foul by Ronald Araujo 11 minutes later to give the visitors the lead.

But after Valencia keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili saw red for a handball outside the box before the break Barca dominated and Lewandowski scored with two headers from corners in the 49th and 82nd before getting his treble with a free-kick in added time.

(Reporting by Fernando Kallas in Madrid; Editing by Ken Ferris)