Robert Lewandowski scored twice to secure a hard-fought 2-1 victory for Hansi Flick’s Barcelona against Valencia in their La Liga opener on Saturday.
In his first competitive match as Barcelona’s head coach, Flick celebrated a vital win as his team came from behind to overcome Ruben Baraja’s resilient Valencia side.
Valencia took the lead in the 44th minute when Hugo Duro nodded in Diego Lopez’s cross, having lost his marker, Inigo Martinez, who played him onside. The hosts could have doubled their advantage, but Pau Cubarsi cleared Duro’s effort off the line after a mistake by Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Just before halftime, Lewandowski equalized for Barcelona, turning in a close-range shot after Lamine Yamal redirected Alejandro Balde’s cross back into the danger zone.
Barcelona then moved ahead early in the second half when Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera brought down Raphinha in the box. Lewandowski, who is about to turn 36, confidently converted the penalty by firing it into the top corner.
Despite Valencia’s best efforts, Barcelona controlled the pace in the second half, limiting the home side’s chances. The Catalans came close to extending their lead, with Ferran Torres missing a one-on-one opportunity against Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili and Marc Casado shooting wide late in the game.
Lewandowski had a chance to complete his hat-trick in stoppage time but shot over the bar.
Reflecting on the match, Lewandowski praised the team’s performance, particularly in the second half.
Barcelona’s win came despite the absence of key players such as Frenkie de Jong, Gavi, and Ronald Araujo. Flick opted to start three 17-year-olds: Spain’s Euro 2024 star Lamine Yamal, whose father was recently stabbed in a violent attack, Pau Cubarsi, and midfielder Marc Bernal, who made his debut.
Barcelona began their campaign to reclaim the title with an impressive result at Valencia’s notoriously challenging Mestalla Stadium.
