Barcelona ended their La Liga winless streak in spectacular fashion on Sunday, demolishing Valencia 7-1 at Camp Nou.
Young sensation Fermin López stole the show, netting a brilliant double and providing two assists in a performance that had fans on their feet. The victory propels Barcelona to third in the standings with 42 points, just three behind Atlético Madrid and seven short of leaders Real Madrid.
The match couldn’t have started better for Barça. In the third minute, Frenkie de Jong found the bottom left corner with a precise shot after a slick cross from Lamine Yamal. The Dutch midfielder was instrumental throughout, orchestrating play and setting the tempo.
De Jong’s influence paid off again when his incisive pass allowed Alejandro Balde to assist Ferran Torres for the second goal. Valencia’s defense looked shaky, and Barcelona took full advantage.
Raphinha made it three before the 15-minute mark. Capitalizing on a misjudgment by Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, the Brazilian coolly slotted the ball into an empty net.
López then took center stage, scoring two goals before halftime. His first was a clinical finish inside the box, and his second, a thunderous long-range strike, left the goalkeeper with no chance.
“We were coming from a tough period in La Liga, and we needed this win,” López told DAZN. “I needed a game like this. I’ve had injuries, and it was important to gain confidence.”
Valencia’s Hugo Duro managed a consolation goal early in the second half, but any hopes of a comeback were dashed when substitute Robert Lewandowski added a sixth for Barcelona. An own goal by César Tarrega capped off a night to forget for the visitors.
The emphatic win comes at a crucial time for Barcelona, who recently secured a spot in the UEFA Champions League last 16 after a thrilling 5-4 victory over Benfica. They are set to face Atalanta on Wednesday in their final group-stage match.
Relegation-threatened Valencia, sitting 19th with 16 points, suffered their first defeat in five games across all competitions. The pressure mounts as they fight to climb out of the drop zone.
Barcelona’s coach expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance. “This is the Barcelona we know,” he said. “We played with passion, precision, and the determination to win.”
Reference(s):
Barcelona end La Liga winless run with 7-1 thrashing of Valencia
cgtn.com
