Barcelona players defeated debutants Real Valladolid 7-0 in the 4th round of the Spanish top flight. One of the goals, the fourth of the season, was scored by Robert Lewandowski. The hero for the home team was Brazilian Raphinha, who scored a hat-trick.
Coach Hansi Flick’s team kicked off the match at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys where they have been hosts for several months. as leader with full points. They have won all previous matches 2:1 – against Valencia, Athletic Bilbao and Rayo Vallecano.
Ahead of Saturday’s game, Barcelona players wore T-shirts with an inscription supporting Marc Bernal. The 17-year-old midfielder, who quickly earned a place in the “Pride of Catalunya”, suffered a serious knee injury in the previous round and is unlikely to play again this season.
The match against the newcomers from Valladolid was a landmark for the Spanish runners-up from the start. The hosts’ goal-scoring show was started in the 20th minute by Raphinha, a player four minutes later, Lewandowski scored.
The 36-year-old forward received the pass, ran into the penalty area and fired a powerful shot from around 13-14 metres out, giving visiting goalkeeper Karl Hein no chance. Although the Estonian touched the ball, the strike was so strong that he had no chance to intervene effectively.
This is Lewandowski’s fourth goal of the season and he leads the scoring charts. In first-half injury time, French defender Jules Kounde made it 3-0, but this result did not reflect the difference in level between the two teams, for example, Dani Olmo, recently signed from RB Leipzig and very active on Saturday, hit the post twice before half-time.
The second half was another showpiece for the hosts. Barcelona’s overwhelming advantage was evidenced, among other things, by the fact that after an hour of play they had already taken 19 shots.
One of them – at 57 minutes – Lewandowski could have extended the lead but hit the outside of the post.
Raphinha, however, impressed with his efficiency. Between minutes 64 and 72 he scored two goals – the first of which was assisted by a Polish striker whose shot was blocked, and after a while the Brazilian scored.
In the 73rd minute – when the score was 5-0 – Lewandowski was substituted and his teammates scored two more goals. First Dani Olmo (82nd), and soon after substitute Polish striker Ferran Torres (85th).
