Barcelona maintained their perfect start to the La Liga season on Sunday with a commanding 5-0 victory over Valencia, with teenage sensation Lamine Yamal scoring twice in a dazzling display.
The reigning Spanish champions moved three points clear at the top of the table following Real Madrid’s 1-0 defeat to Real Betis on Friday.
Fermín López, Raphinha and Pedri were also on target as Hansi Flick’s side produced a dominant performance at the Mestalla.
Yamal, who missed Barcelona’s team training on Saturday after suffering a knock, showed no signs of discomfort as he tormented Valencia’s defence throughout the afternoon.
Barcelona, the only team in La Liga to win all four of their opening matches, seized control from the outset and silenced a hostile Mestalla crowd.
Yamal opened the scoring in the sixth minute with a composed lofted finish after López brilliantly chipped a pass over the Valencia defence.
The teenager appeared to have doubled Barcelona’s advantage later in the half, firing into the near corner, but the goal was ruled out for a marginal offside following a VAR review.
Barcelona eventually found their second in the 22nd minute when López calmly finished after Anthony Gordon set him up.
The visitors suffered a setback when Eric Garcia was forced off following a collision with new midfielder Rodri, who was making his first start since joining from Manchester City.
Barcelona continued to dominate, with Yamal narrowly missing the target and López hitting the post. Valencia briefly threatened through Arnaut Danjuma, but goalkeeper Joan Garcia produced an important near-post save before half-time.
Raphinha, operating once again as Barcelona’s centre-forward, made it 3-0 from close range after being picked out by López.
After goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski denied Rodri, Pedri added Barcelona’s fourth following a slick passing exchange with Dani Olmo.
New signing Gabriel Jesus then made his Barcelona debut during the final 10 minutes, coming close to scoring when his low effort narrowly missed the target.
Yamal completed the rout late on, staying onside to collect another Olmo pass before calmly finding the net for his second goal of the afternoon.
The emphatic victory keeps Barcelona’s 100 per cent league record intact and sends a powerful warning to their title rivals.
