Lewandowski joins Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo with stunning Champions League milestone
Barcelona beat Brest 3-0 on the fifth round of the Champions League league stage at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. A record was the outstanding moment of the match, as Robert Lewandowski became only the third player in the history of the competition with 100 goals, tied with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Beyond this record, it was a good display by the Catalans, much more regular against an opponent that the team dominated from the very first minute.
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Lewandowski makes history with 100 Champions League goals
At 36, Robert Lewandowski reached the milestone of 100 Champions League goals, solidifying his position among the greatest forwards in history. The historic goal came just nine minutes in, when the Polish striker coolly converted a penalty after being brought down by goalkeeper Bizot, following a brilliant pass from Pedri. With coolness, Lewandowski stepped up and joined the elite group that includes Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Lewandowski added one more in stoppage time to lock the 3-0 and take his tally in the competition to 101 goals, while becoming the only striker among the top three scorers to have scored more than once in their 100th goal milestone game. Lewandowski reached 100 goals in 125 matches, at an average of one every 105 minutes. His stats underline his consistency and efficiency as one of the best scorers of the modern era.
His favorite opponents include Benfica and Red Star Belgrade, against whom he scored seven goals each, followed by Real Madrid and Salzburg, with six each. Lewandowski remains a nightmare for defenders, showcasing his ability to score against teams of varying levels and styles.
Barcelona's dominance over Brest
The Catalans, after a certain initial scare, took absolute control of the game to move the ball around with precision and press deep on the opponent's field. Fermín López had two other clear opportunities in the first half to make the result bigger but failed to seize the moments. Raphinha almost scored with an unfortunate deflection that rattled Bizot for sure.
In the second half, the dominance saw Barcelona score more goals as Dani Olmo doubled in the 66 minutes due to a correct cross availed by Gerard Martın. The midfielder managed to see the ball and strike right into the near post area. In injury time Lewandowski was found through an excellent pass from Alejandro Balde; he started his move well and hammered home to wrap up the scores.
The historical relevance of Lewandowski
Not only did Lewandowski reach an historic milestone, but he also underlined his status as one of the greatest names in Champions League history. He was the first player to score a hat trick for three different clubs in the competition, namely Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona, and he remains the fastest to reach 80 goals, achieving the feat in just 100 matches.
His consistency across different scenarios and against varied opponents highlights his versatility. Lewandowski has scored against giants like Real Madrid and Chelsea but has also excelled against lesser-known teams, proving he is a lethal forward in any context.
What this victory means for Barcelona
This victory consolidates Barcelona's strength for the Champions League league stage and sets up another important stepping stone as they continue in the run for consistent results. The comprehensive performance was an expression of a cohesive team spearheaded by Pedri, Raphinha, Dani Olmo, and of course Lewandowski.
The result also increases confidence in the squad and fans at an important stage of the season. A potent attack blended with a solid defense shows promising signs for the challenges ahead.