In Barcelona’s La Liga debut on Saturday, Robert Lewandowski scored twice to help his team defeat a determined Valencia team 2-1. Hugo Duro’s goal for the hosts in the 44th minute was overturned by the Polish striker’s goals, one from close range and the other from the spot.
At the intimidating Mestalla stadium, Flick’s team showed character to overcome a deficit in his first competitive game as head coach of Barcelona. The win sets the tone for Barcelona’s attempt to oust Real Madrid, the current champions. Real Madrid will play Real Mallorca on Sunday, led by their new talisman, Kylian Mbappe. Frenkie de Jong, Gavi, and Ronald Araujo weren’t in Barcelona’s starting lineup, so Flick made the bold choice to start the game with three 17-year-olds.
This made the match difficult for Barcelona. Lamine Yamal, a rising star for Spain’s Euro 2024 team, was one of the young talent. Just a few days after his father was brutally stabbed, Yamal made an appearance.
Barcelona Beat Valencia By 2-1
The trio of teen midfield starters included Yamal, Pau Cubarsi, and Marc Bernal, who was making his debut. “I think we played much better in the second half,” Lewandowski told Movistar. After the teams failed to make many clear chances in the first forty minutes, a level first half erupted as the break beckoned.
From a corner, Duro sent the best of them over the crossbar, and Giorgi Mamardashvili of Valencia stopped a powerful Raphinha shot. After losing Diego Lopez’s cross in the 44th minute to Duro, who had been played onside by Inigo Martinez, Valencia took the lead.
After Marc-Andre ter Stegen lost the ball, Cubarsi beat Duro’s attempt to safety, preventing Los Che from doubling their lead. Dani Olmo, a summer transfer window acquisition for Barcelona, is currently ineligible to play because he has not been officially registered with the team.
Flick says that the attacking midfielder also needs more time to get to the right level of fitness. The German manager had to be creative in his selections because Ilkay Gündogan, Pedri, Gavi, Ronald Arajo, Frenkie de Jong, and Ansu Fati were all out with injuries, and new signing Dani Olmo wasn’t registered with LaLiga because Barca broke Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules.
In the scorching heat and humidity of the east coast of Spain, Marc Bernal, Lamine Yamal, and Pau Cubars were all 17 years old when they were added to the starting lineup.
Rafa Mir was inches away from scoring for the Valencians with two diving headers in the opening minutes, and Cubarsi nearly scored two own goals while attempting to deflect efforts by Diego López and André Almeida. Cubarsi, on the other hand, made an astonishing goalline clearance just one minute after Duro gave Valencia the lead to prevent Valencia from getting a quick second after Mir had already beat goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
That made it possible for Lewandowski to score both goals, keeping Barca in the game. Alejandro Balde sent a long cross from the left touchline to the back post for the veteran’s first goal.
He met 17-year-old Lamine Yamal at the back post, who turned the ball back along the six-yard box with one touch and gave Lewandowski a simple tap-in. Cristhian Mosquera, a defender, tripped Raphinha inside the box in the second half, giving Barcelona a penalty kick that Lewandowski converted into the top corner.
With Barça leading, the game’s momentum completely changed, and the visitors had numerous chances to increase their lead against a Valencia team that appeared unable to fight back.
By DNC