Three talking points from Valencia 0-5 Barcelona as Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Fermin Lopez run riot
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Three talking points from Valencia 0-5 Barcelona as Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Fermin Lopez run riot
Barcelona's Brazilian forward #11 Raphinha (R) celebrates with Barcelona's Spanish forward #10 Lamine Yamal and Barcelona's Spanish midfielder #07 Fermin Lopez (L) scoring his team's third goal during the Spanish league football match between Valencia CF and FC Barcelona at Mestalla Stadium in Valencia on September 6, 2026. (Photo by JOSE JORDAN / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
Jason Pettigrove
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3 min read
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Barcelona became the only club La Liga to make it four winsfrom their opening four games on Sunday with a comprehensive 5-0 thrashing of Valencia. Hansi Flick's side simply blew away the opposition thanks to a brace from Lamine Yamal as well as goals from Raphinha, Fermin Lopez and Pedri.
Let's take a look at three talking points from the game…
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Fantastic Fermin wreaks havoc
VALENCIA, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 06: Fermin Lopez of FC Barcelona celebrates a goal during the Spanish league, LaLiga EA Sports, football match played between Valencia CF and FC Barcelona at Mestalla stadium on September 6, 2026, in Valencia, Spain. (Photo By Ivan Terron/Europa Press via Getty Images) | Europa Press via Getty Images
It's good to see Fermin being given some decent minutes by Hansi Flick, after really doing his utmost to earn that starting spot.
A player who embodies the fighting spirit that the manager demands of his players, the midfielder can always be relied upon to be the difference-maker in a game.
Whether that be by executing an assist, as he did for Lamine and Raphinha, or by scoring himself, or even just because his energy often has opposition defences run ragged, his presence is well deserved.
With Rodri well in control in a defensive sense, that frees Fermin to wreak havoc where he's most dangerous, and when he can.
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Fermin's goals mean he is the first Spanish player to score four times in Barcelona's first four matches of a LaLiga season since Cesc Fabregas in 2011/12. He's also the first player to score and provide an assist within the first 25 minutes of a LaLiga match in the 2026/27 season.
Fabulous!
Understated excellence from Rodri
VALENCIA, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 06: Rodri of Barcelona runs with the ball during the LaLiga EA Sports 2026/27 match between Valencia CF and FC Barcelona at Estadi de Mestalla on September 06, 2026 in Valencia, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Even if his performance wasn't perhaps as headline-grabbing as Fermin's, Rodri, on his 100th La Liga appearance, was excellence personified.
The calmness he exudes even under the most intense pressure is very reminiscent of Sergio Busquets in his prime, and his vision during the game was unmatched.
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There was an ease to the way in which he switched through the gears, and he commanded the midfield throughout every transitional phase.
It was, without doubt, a masterclass in simplicity and effectiveness.
Barca can't stop scoring
VALENCIA, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 06: Raphinha of Barcelona celebrates scoring his team’s third goal with teammate Lamine Yamal during the LaLiga EA Sports 2026/27 match between Valencia CF and FC Barcelona at Estadi de Mestalla on September 06, 2026 in Valencia, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It wasn't that long ago that culers were genuinely worried about where the goals were going to come from in this team.
No Lewandowski, Ferran or Marcus Rashford, who were responsible for 54 goals between them last season, gave rise to the notion that Barca were going to struggle in front of goal in 2026/27.
And yet, here we are, four games in and 17 goals scored. Better than, the three-goals-per-game average from 2025/26.
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Yamal, Fermin and Raphinha have scored 14 of Barca's goals from their first four matches. According to Mister Chip, it's the most prolific attacking trio in the opening four matchday since the 1958-59 season (when Di Stéfano (7), Rial (4), and Puskás (4) bagged 15 for Real Madrid).
Raphinha has been electric down the middle with goals in every game, Lamine is playing with a smile on his face again and only a goal from Anthony Gordon is needed for an almost perfect start to the campaign for the new front three.
