Red Star 2-5 Barcelona – Rafinha, Jules Kounde and Robert Lewandowski shine as Barca beat Red Star

In Serbia, Barcelona beat Red Star Belgrade 5-2, with Robert Lewandowski and Rafinha playing for Hansi Flick’s side.

Barcelona were keen to continue their excellent form under Flick, while the home side needed a win to have any chance of qualifying for the knockout stages later in the tournament.

It was Barca who took the lead, with defender Inigo Martinez scoring an early header from a corner before Silas overcame an offside flag at the other end to equalize in the 27th minute.

Lewandowski then made a great move to give the visitors the lead just before the break.

In the second half, Lewandowski added his second from Jules Kounde’s clever cross, and two minutes later Raphinha made it the fourth. Substitute Fermin Lopez then converted another pass from Kounde for the fifth. Milson then pulled one back for Red Star with a fine curling effort, but it was not enough to spark a comeback.

The Serbian team remains meaningless after a heavy defeat, with Barcelona now having nine points and on track to qualify for the next round.

A difficult season led to reasonable speculation that 2023/24 was the season when the Polish veteran finally began to crumble, but the arrival of Hansi Flick changed all that.

Lewandowski scored his 18th and 19th goals in the match against Red Star, two of which were poachers. He now has 99 goals in the Champions League.

The experienced striker clearly benefits from an attacking trio that creates chances that he can capitalize on.

Crvena Star: Marko Ilic 5, Seol 5, Djiga 5, Spajic 6, Rodic 5, Krunic 5, Kanga 6, Elsnik 5, Maksimovic 6, Silas 7, Ndiaye 6. Spare parts: Dalcho 6, Luka Ilic 6, Katay 46, Milson 7, Prutsev 6.

Barcelona: Pena 6, Kubarsi 7, Martinez 7, Casado 7, Kounde 8, Martin 6, De Jong 6, Pedri 7, Rafinha 8, Yamal 7, Lewandowski 8. Spare parts: Gavi 6, Fermin 7, Pau 6, Olmo 6, Sergi 64.

13′ – GOAL! RED ZVEZDA – BARCELONA 0:1 – MARTINEZ TAKES – The defender will head home for his first match in Europe this season. Raphinha sent a superb free-kick to the back post and Martinez headed towards the far post.

27′ – GOAL! RED ZVEZDA – BARCELONA 1:1 – SILAS FORGETS – Everything is square. Silas overcomes the offside trap, takes Pena out early and gets the ball around him superbly.

43′ – GOAL! RED ZVEZDA – BARCELONA 1:2 – MALY LEVANDOVSKI – A simple finish to a great move. Yamal dances in the penalty area, finds Pedri, who puts Raphinha on the tee outside the penalty area. His shot rattles the post and hits the left wing of the Polish striker, who slides forward and converts.

53′ – GOAL! RED ZVEZDA – BARCELONA 1:3 – MALY LEVANDOVSKI – Pedri finds Kounde in space on the right, he sends a cross to the back post that bounces into Lewandowski’s hips for him to squeeze in.

55′ – GOAL! RED ZVEZDA – BARCELONA 1:4 – RAFINA MALA – Kounde comes forward again down the right flank, deftly plays the ball back to Raphinha on the edge of the area and fires a shot low into the corner.

76′ – GOAL! CRVENA ZVEZDA – BARCELONA 1–5 – FERMIN SCORE – Kounde is high on the right again, he finds Fermin to his left and his shot goes past Dalcho and past the goalkeeper.

84′ – GOAL! RED ZVEZDA – BARCELONA 2:5 – MILSON RAISES – A superb strike from the striker that picks up Kounde, enters the center and curls into the far corner.

Barcelona won seven matches in a row.