Story by
Valencia 0-5 Barcelona, La Liga: Recap
- Story by
- Valencia 0-5 Barcelona, La Liga: Recap
Photo by JOSE JORDAN / AFP via Getty Images
Barcelona remain perfect to start the season and have won their fourth straight La Liga game to open up a three-point lead at the top of the table thanks to a dominant 5-0 win over Valencia at Mestalla on Sunday afternoon. The Blaugrana put on another attacking show and created over a dozen giant chances, and Lamine Yamal (twice), Raphinha, Fermín López and Pedri found the net to give the leaders three more points in spectacular fashion.
Barça played a fantastic opening period, establishing their dominance from the opening whistle and creating huge chances early and often against Valencia's low block.
Advertisement
Lamine Yamal scored a brilliant first goal and had a second disallowed for a very narrow offside, and came very close three other times. Fermín López also found the net with a powerful finish in the box, and almost scored a glorious solo goal but was denied by the keeper and the post.
The Catalans had a couple of scares at the back but Joan Garcia was up to the task with a couple of big saves. Barça were in control for the entire half, however, and dominated midfield thanks to Rodri, who was simply fantastic in the opening 45 minutes of his first start.
There was only one piece of bad news when a freak accident caused Eric Garcia to suffer a broken nose in a collision with Rodri in the box, but Barça were fully in control and had a deserved two-goal lead at the break.
Photo by JOSE JORDAN / AFP via Getty Images
Barça's dominance continued in the seecond half and the Blaugrana got an early third goal with an assist from Fermín and a tap-in by Raphinha, and the visitors kept creating chance after chance against a completely hopeless Valencia defense.
Advertisement
Dimitrievski did the best he could in the home team's goal, but Barça's pressure was just too much and they scored two more goals: Pedri found the net after a gorgeous one-two with Dani Olmo, who got his second assist off the bench as he found Yamal inside the box and the teenager doubled his tally.
Hansi Flick was able to make six changes in total thanks to Eric's early concussion substitution, and the coach was able to rest a few key bodies and give minutes to Gabriel Jesus, who was lively and active on his debut and almost found the net himself.
The final whistle came to give Barça all three points on a brilliant afternoon for the Catalans, who destroyed Valencia from start to finish and could have genuinely scored in double digits if not for Dimitrievski, VAR and some unlucky bounces.
It was a sensational performance to put them three points clear at the top, and Barça's flying start to the season continues. Well done, boys!
