Barcelona crushed Valladolid 7-0 in the 4th round of La Liga.
Match Details
Barcelona vs Valladolid
Saturday, August 31, 2024, 22:00
La Liga – Round 4
Final Score:
Barcelona 7 – 0 Valladolid
First half: 3-0
Goals
- Raphinha (20′)
- R. Lewandowski (24′)
- J. Kounde (45+2′)
- Raphinha (64′)
- Raphinha (72′)
- D. Olmo (82′)
- F. Torres (85′)
On the evening of August 31 at Montjuic Stadium, Barcelona dominated Valladolid. Coach Hansi Flick’s team controlled 71% of the possession, took 23 shots with 11 on target, compared to four shots and one on target for their 12th-placed opponents.
Raphinha shined with a hat-trick. Starting the match as a left winger, he frequently cut inside to play as a second striker. In the 20th minute, the Brazilian star moved centrally, received a long pass from midfield, and slotted the ball into the far corner to open the scoring.
Yamal and Raphinha celebrate after scoring the opening goal in Barcelona’s 7-0 victory over Valladolid in the fourth round of La Liga on the evening of August 31. Photo: EFE
In this match, Marc Casado replaced Marc Bernal, who recently suffered a torn ACL in his knee, in the defensive midfielder position. Not only did the 20-year-old fulfill his role as a disruptor, but he also helped Pedri and Dani Olmo dominate the midfield. Together, they provided a platform for Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, and Lamine Yamal to continuously threaten Valladolid’s defense.
In the 24th minute, after evading two defenders, Lewandowski’s left-footed shot rebounded off the goalkeeper into the net. The Polish striker scored his fourth goal in his first four matches.
Barcelona continued to dominate after their second goal. Meanwhile, Valladolid’s attacks were often halted in midfield or easily neutralized by Barcelona’s defenders and goalkeeper Ter Stegen. In the 45+2 minute, taking advantage of a chaotic situation in the penalty area, defender Kounde shot into the top corner to make it 3-0.
After the break, Flick’s team continued to put pressure on Valladolid’s goal. Olmo stood out with his dribbling, feints, and clever passing combinations. In the 64th minute, his through ball caused chaos in Valladolid’s defense, allowing Raphinha to tap in and make it 4-0. Eight minutes later, the Brazilian once again found space in the penalty area and fired a cross-shot to extend the lead to 5-0.
Raphinha recorded his first hat-trick in a Barcelona shirt. The former Leeds United player scored a total of 20 goals in his first two seasons with the Catalan club, but only needed four matches this season to score three goals.
Olmo (with white hair) celebrates his goal with Lewandowski during Barcelona’s 7-0 win over Valladolid in the fourth round of La Liga on the evening of August 31. Photo: MD
Despite Valladolid’s deteriorating morale, Barcelona did not relent. In the 82nd minute, Olmo dribbled through four players in the center and curled a right-footed shot into the far corner to make it 6-0. Torres, who came on for Lewandowski, also scored his first goal of the La Liga season. The Euro 2024 champion received a left-wing cross from Raphinha and volleyed the ball past the goalkeeper into the net.
Valladolid conceded seven goals against Barcelona, more than double the three goals they had allowed in their first three matches. After their fourth consecutive win, Barcelona remained top of the league with 12 points, seven points ahead of defending champions Real Madrid. Real Madrid will play their fourth-round match on the evening of September 1, hosting Betis.
