Robert Lewandowski continued his red-hot scoring form with two goals as Barcelona earned a third consecutive Champions League win by thrashing Red Star Belgrade.
Lewandowski, 36, took his season tally to 19 goals in 16 games in all competitions to move within one goal of becoming only the third player in history to reach a century of Champions League goals, after Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
The Poland international’s reactive finish after Raphinha’s shot rebounded off the post restored Barcelona’s lead before half-time, with Inigo Martinez’s 13th-minute header cancelled out by Silas Katompa Mvumpa’s opener against the run of play.
Two quick-fire Barcelona goals early in the second half took the game away from Serbian champions Red Star, as Jules Kounde assisted Lewandowski and Raphinha before also teeing up Fermin Lopez late on.
There was still time for substitute Milson to score a late consolation with a brilliant, curled finish for Red Star, who remain without a point in 35th place in the table.
Victory lifted Barcelona up to sixth in the new 36-team league format, and Lewandowski will have the chance to score his 100th Champions League goal at home to Brest later this month.
Lewandowski closes in on century for free-scoring Barcelona
An early disallowed Red Star goal aside – the offside Timi Max Elsnik fractionally mistiming his run – Barcelona dominated from kick-off in Belgrade and got their reward when Inigo Martinez met Raphinha’s free-kick.
But the visitors were punished for their wastefulness, with the lively Raphinha – who also hit the outside of the post direct from a corner – among those guilty when he blazed over after being played through by Lamine Yamal.
Silas produced a delightful, chipped finish from a rare opportunity to stun Barcelona but Lewandowski’s first of the night paved the way for a one-sided second half.
The Barcelona striker, whose 99 goals have come in 124 Champions League appearances, failed to take a great chance to score his second shortly after the restart but could not miss when Kounde found him unmarked at the back post.
Kounde then picked out Raphinha on the edge of the penalty area just two minutes later to give the La Liga leaders breathing space, before the French right-back completed his hat-trick of assists as Lopez put the result beyond any doubt.
Nine points clear at the top in Spain, Hansi Flick’s free-scoring Barcelona are on track to finish in the top eight of the revamped Champions League after bouncing back from their opening defeat by Monaco.
They have now won their past seven games in all competitions, scoring 29 goals during that run.
Spearheaded by the history-chasing Lewandowski, it is the first time Barcelona have scored four or more goals in three successive games in Europe’s elite club competition since 1959-60.
