Barcelona 6-0 Valencia: La Blaugrana deliver perfect response after last matchweek’s setback
After a tepid display against Rayo Vallecano last time out, Barcelona rediscovered their swagger on Saturday night, dismantling Valencia 6-0 with a display brimming with energy, precision and, above all, goals.
It was a reminder of the ruthlessness of Flick’s side, capable of looking pedestrian one week, as in their frustrating draw at Vallecas, and then absolutely dominant the next.
This game was tricky even before kick-off. The ever-present Lamine Yamal was sidelined through injury, and Raphinha was benched for an uncharacteristic display of tardiness. In their absence Barcelona turned to other sources of inspiration, and found them in abundance.
First there was Fermin Lopez in the first half. His movement, constantly darting between Valencia’s static midfield lines, gave Barcelona a platform to build from. And he set the hosts on their way after half an hour when he ran onto a Ferran Torres pass from deep, and then opening the scoring with a crisp low strike beyond Julen Agirrezabala.
The break came with the scoreline at only 1-0 but in the second period Valencia were scythed apart. Within minutes of the restart Marcus Rashford, whose direct running down the flank unsettled Valencia’s back line all night, put in a low cross that the half-time substitute Raphinha bundled home.
Three minutes later, Lopez was back on the score sheet, thundering in his second from distance. Agirrezabala managed to get a hand on it but it was just too powerful for him to keep out. Valencia were unravelling, but it was made worse by their attempts to push men forward, leaving acres of space behind.
A defensive lapse presented Raphinha with a chance to strike again after the hour, and he punished it ruthlessly.
Flick introduced fresh legs and the assault continued. Dani Olmo was left in too much space and he slipped an incisive ball through the centre to Robert Lewandowski, who produced a classic finish in off the crossbar.
Five minutes from time he lobbed his second over Agirrezabala after being put through by Marc Bernal. It was initially chalked off for offside but VAR intervened.
