Barcelona produced one of La Liga’s greatest scintillating whitewash, as they thrash Valencia 7-1 at the Montjuïc Olympic Stadium late on Sunday night, lifting them to third place on the La Liga table. A welcomed victory that means a halt to a dismal run of results in the league.
From the outset, Barcelona asserted their dominance, with Frenkie de Jong, Ferran Torres, and Raphinha scoring within the first 15 minutes to leave Valencia reeling. De Jong’s goal was a masterclass in precision, as he slotted the ball past the Valencia goalkeeper with ease. Torres and Raphinha followed suit, capitalizing on Valencia’s defensive lapses to hand Barcelona a commanding 3-0 lead.
The hosts’ mesmerizing display continued unabated, with Pau Cubarsí’s sublime pass from the back and Fermín López’s clinical finish adding a fourth goal to Barcelona’s tally. Cubarsí’s vision and execution were exemplary, as he picked out López with a pinpoint accurate pass. López, making the most of his rare start, showed composure and skill to slot the ball past the Valencia goalkeeper.
Valencia’s woes were compounded when a potential penalty was overturned by VAR, following a foul by José Gayà on Jules Kounde in the buildup. The visitors’ frustration was palpable, as they struggled to make inroads against Barcelona’s solid defense.
Barcelona’s relentless pressure yielded another goal before halftime, courtesy of Raphinha’s audacious strike against the post and Fermín’s subsequent rebound, which doubled his tally and handed Barcelona a commanding 5-0 lead at the interval.
The second half witnessed Barcelona’s continued stranglehold on the game, with Ferran Torres squandering a gilt-edged opportunity to extend the lead. Valencia eventually breached Barcelona’s defense, courtesy of Hugo Duro’s straightforward finish from Diego López’s cross.
Undeterred, Barcelona promptly restored their five-goal advantage through Robert Lewandowski’s sumptuous strike after coming off the bench. Lewandowski’s finish– characteristic of his clinical nature, as he expertly dispatched the ball into the net.
The hosts’ goal glut continued with César Tárrega’s own goal, deflecting Ferran’s cross into his own net, as Barcelona surged to a 7-1 lead with 15 minutes remaining.
With the game effectively won, Barcelona’s coach Hansi Flick opted to rest his key players, having made all five substitutions. The Catalans subsequently coasted to a resounding victory, ending their dismal run in La Liga with a performance that underscored their title aspirations and vetted their credentials.
Seven points adrift of the leaders, Barcelona’s prospects may seem daunting, but this victory served as a poignant reminder of their capabilities, particularly against struggling teams like Valencia. From here, Barcelona’s resurgence will undoubtedly be one to watch with exciting talents on their hands.
