Barcelona overtakes Valencia, wins again and goes third in LaLiga
After four games without a win, Hansi Flick’s team thrashes the second-to-last team with two goals from Fermín López
CHOCOLATE AT THE OLYMPIC STADIUM
Barcelona thrashed Valencia 7-1 this Sunday in the 21st round of LaLiga. At home, at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium, Lamine Yamal and company made it 5-0 in the first half. Fermín López scored twice, and de Jong, Ferrán Torres, Raphinha and Lewandowski each scored one. Tárrega scored an own goal for the visitors, and Hugo Duro scored for Valencia. Barcelona moved up to third place with 42 points, while Corberán’s team remains in second-to-last with 16 points.
WINNING BACK IN LALIGA
Barcelona have enjoyed great moments in recent weeks, but have been struggling in the Spanish league. The Catalan team had not won in four games, having lost to Mallorca, Atlético de Madrid and Leganés, as well as drawing with Getafe. The results dropped Hansi Flick’s team down the table and hurt their race for the top spot, but Sunday’s rout gave them a breather. With 42 points, Barça are three behind second-placed Atlético de Madrid, who have 45, and are now just 49 behind first-placed Real Madrid . In other words, with 17 rounds to go, the club can still dream of winning their 28th LaLiga trophy.
RAIN OF GOALS
Frenkie de Jong needed just two minutes to open the scoring. Yamal’s first touch of the game saw him run from the right into the middle and pass to de Jong, who controlled the ball, turned off balance and hit it into the corner. Five minutes later, Baldé launched a pass into the box, Ferrán Torres came from behind and hit it first time to extend the lead. In the 13th minute, de Jong passed to Raphinha , who received the ball as he entered the box, dribbled past the goalkeeper and shot into the empty net. Fermín López scored twice to make it 5-0 in the first half. He received a long ball from Cubarsí and scored in the 23rd minute. The second goal came in the 48th minute, when Fermín scored a rebound from a shot by Raphinha that hit the crossbar.
Valencia pulled one back in the 13th minute of the second half. Diego López crossed low from the left and Hugo Duro slid the ball into the back of the net. Lewandowski had just come on and scored with 20 minutes on the clock. Fermín passed the ball to the forward who got in between the defenders and hit a cross. To seal the deal, Ferrán Torres shot inside the box, the goalkeeper saved it and the rebound went back to the forward, who shot again. The ball deflected off Tárrega, who scored an own goal .
