Barcelona came from behind to avoid a shock defeat by strugglers Real Oviedo as Santi Cazorla made his first La Liga start for the Asturian club at the age of 40.
Alberto Reina pounced on a mistake from Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia to give Oviedo a surprise first-half lead, but second-half goals from Eric Garcia, Robert Lewandowski and Ronald Araujo secured a 3-1 win that preserved the Blaugrana’s unbeaten start to the season.
Former Arsenal and Spain midfielder Cazorla was forced to leave boyhood club Real Oviedo in 2003 without making a senior appearance because of financial difficulties.
He returned to the club in 2023, and last season helped them win the La Liga 2 promotion play-offs to return to the top flight for the first time since 2001.
A sold-out Carlos Tartiere stadium saw Cazorla make the first La Liga start of his long career, and for a time it looked like the football gods were smiling on him.
Oviedo found themselves trapped inside their own penalty area – Aaron Escandell made three acrobatic stops to deny Marcus Rashford and Araujo while Raphinha hit the post from distance – before keeper Garcia gifted them the lead.
The summer signing from city rivals Espanyol was quick off his line to intercept a bouncing Cazorla through ball outside his penalty area, but then overhit a pass intended for Marc Casado.
Oviedo midfielder Reina ran on to the loose ball and hit a curling effort that looped over the backpedaling Eric Garcia and Gerard Martin before bouncing up into the roof of the net.
“I’m enjoying but suffering, we are making a massive effort as a team,” Cazorla told Dazn as he left the pitch at half-time.
“Let’s see if we can catch them on the break and score a second.”
That’s exactly what Oviedo tried to do.
Barcelona looked sluggish early in the second half despite Frenkie de Jong replacing Casado, and were almost cut out when Haissem Hassan beat Martin to the byeline but saw his low cross beaten away by Garcia.
Ultimately, Barcelona’s superior quality told. Eric Garcia stabbed in after Escandell tipped Ferran Torres’ swivel volley on to the post, and 14 minutes later, substitutes combined as Lewandowski met De Jong’s inswinging cross at its peak with a flicked header that kissed the crossbar on its way in.
In the final moments Araujo headed home from a Rashford corner – the Englishman’s third assist in three league games – to secure the win.
Oviedo’s second goal of the season will be of little consolation, as they remain in the relegation zone with just three points after six games.
Barcelona remain second and close the gap between themselves and league leaders Real Madrid to two points.
By BBC Sports
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