Barcelona extends perfect start in Spanish league with 6th win but loses Ter Stegen

MADRID (AP) — Barcelona extended its perfect start to the Spanish league season but lost goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen with a serious knee injury on Sunday.

Barcelona routed host Villarreal 5-1 to pick up its sixth straight victory in the competition, but saw Ter Stegen leave the match on a stretcher just before halftime after his right knee buckled when he fell awkwardly after going up for a ball crossed into the area.

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Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski, front, celebrates at the end of a Spanish La Liga soccer match against Villarreal at the La Cerámica stadium in Villarreal, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. Barcelona won the game 5-1.(AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

MADRID (AP) — Barcelona extended its perfect start to the Spanish league season but lost goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen with a serious knee injury on Sunday.

Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Villarreal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the La Cerámica stadium in Villarreal, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

Barcelona's Jules Kounde controls a ball during a Spanish La Liga soccer match against Villarreal at the La Cerámica stadium in Villarreal, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

Barcelona's Pablo Torre, center, celebrates with teammates after he scoring his side's 3rd goal against Villarreal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the La Cerámica stadium in Villarreal, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz

Barcelona's Raphinha celebrates scoring his side's 4th goal against Villarreal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the La Cerámica stadium in Villarreal, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

Barcelona's Raphinha celebrates after scoring his side's 4th goal against Villarreal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the La Cerámica stadium in Villarreal, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

Barcelona's Raphinha celebrates with Lamine Yamal after scoring his side's 5th goal against Villarreal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the La Cerámica stadium in Villarreal, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

Barcelona's goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen is removed from the pitch on a stretcher after picking up an injury during a Spanish La Liga soccer match against Villarreal at the La Cerámica stadium in Villarreal, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

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MADRID (AP) — Barcelona extended its perfect start to the Spanish league season but lost goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen with a serious knee injury on Sunday.

Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Villarreal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the La Cerámica stadium in Villarreal, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

Barcelona's Jules Kounde controls a ball during a Spanish La Liga soccer match against Villarreal at the La Cerámica stadium in Villarreal, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

Barcelona's Pablo Torre, center, celebrates with teammates after he scoring his side's 3rd goal against Villarreal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the La Cerámica stadium in Villarreal, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz

Barcelona's Raphinha celebrates scoring his side's 4th goal against Villarreal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the La Cerámica stadium in Villarreal, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

Barcelona's Raphinha celebrates after scoring his side's 4th goal against Villarreal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the La Cerámica stadium in Villarreal, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

Barcelona's Raphinha celebrates with Lamine Yamal after scoring his side's 5th goal against Villarreal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the La Cerámica stadium in Villarreal, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

Barcelona's goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen is removed from the pitch on a stretcher after picking up an injury during a Spanish La Liga soccer match against Villarreal at the La Cerámica stadium in Villarreal, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Saiz)

It was the latest injury to Hansi Flick's Barcelona, which is already without Dani Olmo, Frenkie de Jong, Gavi and Ronald Araujo, among others.

Robert Lewandowski scored a pair of first-half goals and Raphinha added two after the interval, with Pablo Torre also scoring for the Catalan club in the second half.

Barcelona has outscored its opponents 22-5 in its first six games. It has a four-point lead over Real Madrid, which beat Espanyol on Saturday.

In other results Sunday, Getafe and Leganes drew 1-1 and Athletic Bilbao defeated Celta Vigo 3-1.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

BOSTON (AP) — Red Sox manager Alex Cora was ejected in the first inning of the opening game of a split doubleheader against Minnesota on Sunday at Fenway Park.

Cora became irate after the umpiring crew came together and decided to allow Byron Buxton to advance to third on an interference call at second on a pickoff attempt.

With Buxton at second, pitcher Nick Pivetta turned and threw to second baseman Vaughn Grissom, who went down to one knee to field the throw directly in the baseline as Buxton made his way back in safely.

Once the call was made, Cora quickly strutted out of the dugout and argued behind the mound, where crew chief Alan Porter ejected him. Porter tried to block him as he attempted to go argue with the other umpires.

Cora walked out to the second-base bag twice and pointed in the area before leaving the field to applause from the fans.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Barcelona extends perfect start in Spanish league with 6th win but loses Ter Stegen

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