VALENCIA: Barcelona striker Robert Lewan­dowski scored a 93rd-minute winner as they snatched a 1-0 win against Valencia on Saturday to take provisional top spot level on points with Real Madrid in La Liga.

With the match heading for what seemed like a goalless draw, Barca’s Raphinha looped a cross into the box which was acrobatically stabbed home by a stretching Lewandowski for the Polish striker’s 13th league goal of the season.

Barcelona created many opportunities in the first half but Valencia’s rearguard stood firm, with goalkeeper Giorgi Mamar­dashvili denying Ansu Fati while Lewandowski also saw a header come off the post.

Ferran Torres also had a glorious chance to score against his former club but he failed to make good contact with the ball from a few metres out.

Earlier, Ruben Sobrino bundled home a dramatic last gasp winner to earn Cadiz a remarkable 3-2 win over Atletico Madrid, piling the misery on the visitors in a harrowing week for Diego Simeone’s team. It looked like Joao Felix had salvaged the Rojiblancos a point from two goals down, with a stunning impact off the bench, forcing an own goal and scoring another effort himself, stemming the bleeding after their Champions League elimination on Wednesday.

Jorge Sampaoli’s Sev­illa, 17th, fell to a disappointing 1-0 defeat at home against Rayo Valle­cano, while Almeria beat Celta Vigo 3-1.

Published in Dawn, October 31st, 2022