Valencia 3-1 Barcelona: Guerra 66, Rioja 71, Rodriguez 90+1; Lewandowski 61
Barcelona lost 3-1 to Valencia at the Mestalla on the final day of the season despite going ahead first. Robert Lewandowski opened the scoring shortly after the hour mark for the already crowned champions in his final appearance for the Catalan club, reacting superbly to redirect Ferran Torres’ wayward volley into the net.
But the home side overturned the second-half deficit with three goals, including two in a devastating four-minute spell, to send their supporters home celebrating despite the failure to qualify for Europe.
Valencia were lively throughout the contest and refused to let their season fade quietly. Lewandowski put Hansi Flick’s side ahead but their persistence was rewarded in the 67th minute when Javi Guerra collected possession on the edge of the penalty area, shifted the ball onto his preferred foot and calmly slotted beyond goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny to bring the hosts level.
Moments later Valencia completed the turnaround. Jesus Vazquez drove forward down the left and combined neatly with Guerra, whose initial effort was blocked, but then the loose ball dropped kindly for Luis Rioja and he drilled a low left-footed strike past Szczesny to put Valencia in front.
There was an urgency to this game at times, a willingness to snatch at chances, to shoot, to fire the ball hard and flat towards goal. The hosts continued to press and could have had a penalty when Vazquez was brought down by Marc Bernal, but VAR ruled the foul had occurred just outside the area.
Barcelona searched for a response and almost found one through Andreas Christensen’s header, but goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski produced an excellent save to deny the defender. It was Valencia who found a late goal instead, Guido Rodriguez seizing on space outside the box to unleash a powerful effort that caught Szczesny off guard.
