FC Barcelona have emerged victorious from their first to Real Oviedo in a quarter of a century, and that was despite trailing to the newly promoted Asturians after the break.

the game as it happened

Eric García started the fightback, substitute Robert Lewandowski headed in the second, and the game-clinching third also came from a header, courtesy of Ronald Araujo in the dying minutes when the result was still very much in the air.

The win ensures that Barça remain unbeaten and second in the table, two points adrift of leaders Real Madrid, and with another quick turnaround ahead of them, with a home fixture against Real Sociedad on Sunday to prepare for (6.30pm CEST).

Trailing at half-time

Oviedo’s shock opener came on 33 minutes, when Joan García was forced off his line to intercept an attack and found himself needing to advance the ball up the field himself. But a stray pass ended up at the feet of Alberto Reina, who in a horror moment for Barça opted for a long range punt at the undefended net and found it.

It was all the more cruel because much as Oviedo had been putting up a dignified fight, Barça were very much on top and had come agonisingly close to scoring on several occasions.

But home keeper Aarón Escandell was in inspired form, making two stunning saves to deny Marcus Rashford twice, and then stopping a near-certain goal for Aráujo moments after Raphinha had hit the post.

Eric starts the reaction

No team does comebacks quite like Barça does comebacks, and it was time to do it again.

There was a stronger bite to the team after the interval and it wasn’t long before they were back level. Araujó’s killer pass started the move, and although Ferran Torres’ scrambled effort hit the far post, Eric García was quicker to the ball than Aarón and stoked it over the line.

Barça were back in business at the Carlos Tartiere… and Lewandowski was preparing to enter the fray.

Game-winning headers

The Pole only needed four minutes to make an impact, leaping to meet a Frenkie de Jong cross and packing a perfect header, pounding it in off the underside of the crossbar, and raising a fist to celebrate the fact that Barça had once again bounced back from behind.

But there was no guarantee that the lead was going to hold. Oviedo reacted and superb work from Araujo and Jules Kounde was required to resolve two particularly worrying moments in the Barça defence.

Another goal was needed to earn some precious breathing space, but it didn’t come until two minutes from the end of regulation time. Araujo rose to meet a corner with his head and that was 3-1 and game over in what is already Hansi Flcik's 50th win since taking charge of this extraordinary team.

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