Barcelona 3 Elche 0: Robert Lewandowski scores twice and Memphis Depay nets as Xavi’s side go top of La Liga

ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI brushed aside his midweek blank against former side Bayern Munich by netting twice against Elche.

The £42.5million summer signing helped Xavi's side go top of La Liga ahead of tomorrow's Madrid derby.

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Lewandowski, 34, now has EIGHT goals in just six league appearances for his new side, and 11 in eight games in all competitions.

Elche were reduced to 10 men less than 15 minutes into the game, defender Gonzalo Verdu being shown a straight red for hauling down Lewandowski with the striker through on goal.

After fluffing his lines in midweek against his old team, Lewandowski couldn't miss after 33 minutes when Alejandro Balde squared it for him when he was stood three yards out from goal.

Memphis Depay added another four minutes before the break, with Balde again the provider.

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The Dutchman showed impressive strength to hold off a defender as the ball was played into his feet, and fancy footwork to roll it onto his left foot before slamming into the roof of the net.

The home side thought they had scored again two minutes later, but Gavi's effort was ruled out for offside.

Barca though were always going to score again, and barely looked like they broke sweat on their way to a fifth league win of the season.

Sure enough the third came minutes after the restart.

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And, as all the best strikers are, Lewandowski was in the right place at the right time for the third.

A scramble in the box saw the ball fall to him eight yards out, and he made no mistake to sweep home for his second of the match.

That's now five wins out of six for Xavi's side, and the perfect way to put Tuesday's disappointing result in Munich in the rear-view mirror.

Barca end the day top of the league, a point ahead of bitter rivals Real Madrid.

Although Carlo Ancelotti's side can return to the summit if they win tomorrow's derby against Atletico.

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