On Saturday afternoon, the Estadi Olímpic witnessed a remarkable display as FC Barcelona overwhelmed newly promoted Real Valladolid with a staggering seven-goal victory, leaving fans chanting the name of their coach, Hansi Flick. This performance marked a significant moment for Flick, who fully endeared himself to the Barça supporters with one of the team’s most impressive showings in recent memory.
Raphinha stole the spotlight, scoring three goals and providing two assists, but several others, including Dani Olmo, who hit the post twice and had a goal disallowed for a narrow offside, also contributed to the team’s dominance. Robert Lewandowski also struck the woodwork in a match that could have ended with an even higher score.
Entering the match having won their first three games of the season, Barça sent a strong message not just to the other La Liga clubs but to the entire European football community. The team is clearly determined this year, showcasing a squad filled with remarkably young talent. Flick continued his trend of introducing youthful players, debuting center-back Sergi Domínguez for the final 30 minutes of the match.
Raphinha initiated the scoring in the 20th minute after finishing a long pass from Pau Cubarsí, and shortly after, Lewandowski added another goal, his fourth in as many matches, thanks to a clever assist from Lamine Yamal. With the score already at two goals to none and three-quarters of the game remaining, the burning question was how many goals Barça would ultimately score.
Just before halftime, Jules Koundé made it three, capitalizing on a goalmouth scramble and delivering a powerful strike. Valladolid was clearly outmatched, and things only got worse for them in the second half. Raphinha netted his second goal after Valladolid failed to clear the danger in their area, extending Barça’s lead to four.
The highlight came after a Valladolid corner, with Lamine Yamal embarking on a dazzling run before delivering a perfect assist for Raphinha, who completed his hat-trick, bringing the score to five. Dani Olmo finally broke his scoring drought, delighting fans with a well-deserved goal.
As Barça maintained their relentless attack, Ferran Torres added the seventh goal in the closing minutes of the match. With this emphatic win, Barça not only soared in the league standings but also demonstrated a style of play that promises significant achievements this season.
The only downside for fans will be the wait for the next match, as La Liga takes a pause for international fixtures. The team will face Girona in a derby on September 15.