Lamine Yamal scored twice as Barcelona demolished Valencia 5-0 at Mestalla on Sunday, extending their perfect start to the La Liga season to four wins from four matches. Fermin Lopez, Raphinha and Pedri also got on the scoresheet as Hansi Flick’s side put in one of their most complete performances of the campaign so far.
Background: Barca’s Flying Start
Barcelona arrived at Mestalla as the only team in Spain’s top flight to have won every match this season, and they wasted no time proving why. Real Madrid’s shock 1-0 loss at Real Betis the previous night had already opened the door for Barca to move top of the table, and they took full advantage of it.
Valencia, meanwhile, came into the game bottom of the table and still searching for their first win of the campaign. Under Carlos Corberan, they’d shown flashes of resistance in earlier fixtures, but nothing in their form suggested they’d hold out against a Barca side playing with this much confidence.
How The Match Unfolded
Yamal opened the scoring inside six minutes, finishing coolly from a tight angle after Fermin Lopez picked him out with a clever ball over the top. The teenager thought he’d doubled the lead soon after, only for the goal to be chalked off following a tight VAR offside call.
Lopez made it 2-0 in the 22nd minute with a crisp finish, teed up by winger Anthony Gordon. Barcelona did have one scare: Eric Garcia went off injured after colliding with teammate Rodri, on what was meant to be Rodri’s first start since arriving from Manchester City over the summer.
Raphinha added the third early in the second half, tapping in from close range after more good work from Lopez. Pedri then made it four following a slick passing exchange with Dani Olmo, before Yamal wrapped things up late on with a driven finish into the bottom corner, capping his personal double for the day.
Quotes From Officials and Players
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick was pleased but cautious after the result, pointing to the club’s summer transfer business as part of the reason for the strong start. “We have a very young team, with the right transfers we made, but it’s the beginning of the season, it’s not the end,” he said, urging his players not to get carried away this early in the campaign.
The performance also drew attention for how comfortable Barca looked without several key attacking pieces available or fully sharp, a sign Flick pointed to as evidence of squad depth heading into a busy fixture schedule.
Impact: Barca Top The Table, Valencia Era Ends at Mestalla
The win puts Barcelona top of La Liga, two points clear of Real Madrid following the Betis defeat, and keeps them unbeaten through four rounds. For a squad many expected to need time to gel after a busy transfer window, four straight wins with 17 goals scored is a strong early signal.
The match also carried extra weight for Valencia fans, since it’s expected to be Barcelona’s final visit to the historic Mestalla ground before Los Che complete their move to a new stadium next season. That context added an emotional layer to what was otherwise a difficult afternoon for the home side, who remain without a win this season.
What Happens Next
Barcelona now turn their focus to Europe, with Feyenoord set to visit the Spotify Camp Nou for their opening Champions League group fixture. Flick will be managing a growing injury list carefully given the packed schedule ahead, while Valencia will look to regroup under Corberan as they continue their search for a first league win of the campaign.
FAQs
Who scored for Barcelona against Valencia?
Lamine Yamal scored twice, in the 6th minute and again late in the second half, while Fermin Lopez, Raphinha and Pedri each added one goal apiece to complete the 5-0 scoreline. It was a genuinely team performance, with the goals spread across four different players rather than resting on one standout name, which is part of why Flick sounded so pleased afterward.
What was the final score between Barcelona and Valencia?
Barcelona won 5-0 at Mestalla, extending their perfect start to four wins from four La Liga matches this season. The result also moved them to the top of the table after Real Madrid’s surprise 1-0 loss at Real Betis the night before, giving Barca a two-point cushion at the summit heading into the next round of fixtures.
Was this Barcelona’s last match at Valencia’s Mestalla stadium?
Reports around the match suggested this could be Barcelona’s final visit to Mestalla, since Valencia are expected to relocate to a new stadium starting next season. That gave the fixture some extra significance beyond the result itself, even though the scoreline made it a night to forget for the home supporters who turned up to see off their old ground against a rival.
