By Olaitan Ibrahim
Barcelona delivered a footballing masterclass at the Nou Camp, dismantling Valencia in a jaw-dropping 7-1 rout that left fans buzzing with excitement and Valencia searching for answers.
From the opening whistle, it was clear this was going to be a night of sheer dominance from the Catalan giants.
The drama kicked off in just the third minute when Frenkie de Jong latched onto a sublime lofted pass from Lamine Yamal, slotting the ball effortlessly into the bottom-left corner to open the scoring.
Valencia barely had time to regroup before Ferran Torres doubled the lead in the eighth minute with a stunning strike into the right post, leaving the visitors shell-shocked.
As Barcelona’s relentless attack continued, Raphinha added a third goal in the 14th minute, showcasing his composure with a one-on-one finish against Giorgi Mamardashvili.
By the 25th minute, Fermin Lopez made it four with a thunderous volley into the top corner, capping off a sensational first-half performance.
Amid Barcelona’s attacking brilliance, controversy brewed when Valencia had a penalty decision overturned by VAR after Wojciech Szczesny’s challenge in the box.
Adding salt to their wounds, an offside call denied them a glimmer of hope. Despite a spirited effort, their attempts were repeatedly thwarted by Barcelona’s watertight defence.
The second half picked up where the first left off. Robert Lewandowski entered the fray in the 60th minute and wasted no time making his mark, scoring a spectacular goal in the 66th minute to make it 6-1.
Moments later, Valencia’s nightmare deepened when Cesar Tarrega inadvertently turned the ball into his own net under pressure, handing Barcelona their seventh goal of the night.
Valencia’s Hugo Duro managed to pull one back in the 59th minute with a perfectly placed strike into the top corner, but it was merely a consolation in a match that highlighted the gulf in class between the two sides.
Pepelu and Yarek Gasiorowski had fleeting opportunities but failed to convert, reflecting Valencia’s frustrating night.