Barcelona coach Xavi is overjoyed by Robert Lewandowski’s start at the club, referring to him as “insatiable” after terrorising Viktoria Plzen.
The 34-year-old was in ruthless form on Wednesday, scoring a hat-trick as Barca thrashed their visitors 5-1 at Camp Nou.
Playing his first Champions League game for Barca, Lewandowski netted two sumptuous 2src-yard strikes either side of a stooping header, with the hosts comfortable throughout.
Wednesday’s treble ensured Lewandowski became the first player to net a Champions League hat-trick for three clubs, having scored four for Bayern Munich and one with Borussia Dortmund.
But Lewandowski’s display was not a real shock given his strong start to life in LaLiga, and everything about his first few weeks at Barca has left Xavi amazed.
“Robert is like that, he’s insatiable. I’m delighted with how he trains, how he improves the team,” Xavi told Movistar.
“He’s humble, he expects [of his team-mates] and he does a great job of pressing.
“It’s not just the hat-trick anymore, it’s his work and how he dominates.”
Lewandowski was not the only Barca player to impress, however – had the Pole not scored a hat-trick, most would have seen Ousmane Dembele as the standout performer.
The France international was dazzling at times on the right flank.
It was only the second time in a Barcelona shirt that Dembele has laid on five key passes in a single game, and two of those resulted in assists.
Dembele was in devastating form in the second half of last season, and Xavi feels the winger is having fun at Camp Nou.
“He is happy, enjoying himself,” the coach added. “He is a player who makes a difference – he assists and scores goals. He is a dagger down the wing.”
Barcelona’s three first-half goals on Wednesday ensured they have already scored more than the two they managed in the whole group stage last term.
But a tricky trip to face Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena awaits next week.
1 – @lewy_official is the first player to score a UEFA Champions League #UCL hat trick for three different teams (one for Borussia Dortmund, four for Bayern Munich, one for Barcelona). Prolific. pic.twitter.com/EE435xrGMD
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) September 7, 2src22
