Fermin Lopez stars as Barcelona Crush Valencia
Fermin Lopez netted twice and gave two assists as Barcelona hammered Valencia to end their four-match winless La Liga run.
Fermin Lopez delivered a scintillating performance with two goals and two assists, leading Barcelona to an emphatic 7-1 victory over Valencia, ending their four-game winless run in La Liga.
Lightning Start for Barca
Barcelona wasted no time taking control of the game:
- Frenkie de Jong opened the scoring just two minutes in with a precise low strike.
- Ferran Torres doubled the lead shortly after, and within 14 minutes, Raphinha capitalized on a one-on-one chance to make it 3-0.
Lopez added flair to the first half, skillfully controlling a long pass and calmly finishing past Valencia’s Giorgi Mamardashvili, who is reportedly set to join Liverpool. He added his second goal just before halftime, pouncing on the rebound from Raphinha’s shot that struck the crossbar.
Valencia’s Lone Bright Spot
Valencia managed a consolation goal when Hugo Duro converted a cross from Diego Lopez just before the hour mark. However, the visitors remained overwhelmed by Barcelona’s relentless attack.
Second-Half Domination
Barcelona continued to pile on the misery for Valencia:
- Robert Lewandowski, coming off the bench, scored his 17th La Liga goal of the season with a clinical finish into the bottom corner.
- Valencia’s Cesar Tarrega inadvertently scored an own goal, sealing Barcelona’s largest La Liga victory since their 7-0 rout of Real Valladolid in August 2024.
Flick’s Impact on Barca’s Goal Machine
Under Hansi Flick, Barcelona’s offensive firepower has been exceptional, scoring 100 goals in just 32 games across all competitions.
This makes Flick the second-fastest manager in club history to achieve this milestone, behind Helenio Herrera (31 games in 1959).
The win keeps Barca in third place, seven points behind league leaders Real Madrid, while Valencia remains entrenched in 19th place under head coach Carlos Corberan.
Upcoming Challenge
Barcelona will look to carry their momentum into the Champions League as they host Serie A side Atalanta on Wednesday. With their spot in the last-16 already secured, Flick’s men may have the chance to rest key players while showcasing their depth.
Barça fans will be encouraged by this commanding performance as their team builds toward a critical stretch of the season.