Robert Lewandowski continued his scoring spree, netting two goals as Barcelona demolished Sevilla 5-1, solidifying their lead in La Liga.
The victory comes just ahead of the highly anticipated "classico" against Real Madrid next weekend.
In a commanding performance, Barcelona opened a three-point gap at the top of the table, with Pedri and Pablo Torre also contributing to the scoreline.
Gavi made his return from a lengthy injury layoff, coming on as a substitute in the 83rd minute.
“I had been dreaming about this moment for months,” Gavi said after the match. “It’s tough to watch from the sidelines, but I feel incredibly lucky to be back.”
With this win, Barcelona outscored their opponents 33-10 this season, showcasing their offensive prowess.
Lewandowski, now with 12 league goals, scored from the penalty spot and added another before halftime.
His two goals were part of a dominant display that included a curling shot from Pedri and a brace from Torre in the final minutes.
Sevilla managed to score a late consolation goal through substitute Stanis Idumbo, but it did little to dampen Barcelona`s celebration.
Meanwhile, in Serie A, Lautaro Martinez`s lone goal guided Inter Milan to a 1-0 victory over AS Roma, keeping them hot on the heels of league leaders Napoli.
Martinez struck in the 60th minute, capitalizing on a defensive mistake to secure the win at the Stadio Olimpico.
Inter remains just two points behind Napoli, who triumphed 1-0 against Empoli, as the top four teams all secured victories.
Coach Simone Inzaghi praised his team`s performance, stating, “The boys played well... we had chances to score again and should have.”
Roma’s struggles continued as they sit in 10th place after another disappointing defeat.
The atmosphere was tense as fans protested against club management before the match, reflecting dissatisfaction with recent decisions.
In Ligue 1, Marseille returned to form with a resounding 5-0 victory over Montpellier, moving within three points of leaders Paris Saint-Germain.
The match marked a strong rebound for Marseille, which had previously struggled with form.
Elye Wahi opened the scoring just a minute in, followed by goals from Amine Harit, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, and Mason Greenwood, who scored his first goal since August.
Luis Henrique capped off the scoring after Montpellier was reduced to ten men.
Following the heavy defeat, Montpellier sacked coach Michel Der Zakarian, leaving the team in a precarious position with only four points from eight matches.
In the Bundesliga, Union Berlin climbed to fifth with a 2-0 win over Holstein Kiel, thanks to goals from young talents Aljoscha Kemlein and Tom Rothe.
The victory marked back-to-back wins for Union, who had struggled last season.
Additionally, Werder Bremen rallied from a goal down to beat Wolfsburg 4-2, pushing them to eighth in the league standings.
As the European football season progresses, the excitement continues to build, with thrilling matches and surprising outcomes across all top leagues.
