Robert Lewandowski scored twice to help Barcelona secure a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Valencia in their La Liga opener on Saturday. In what was German coach Hansi Flick’s first competitive match in charge, Barcelona came from behind to claim three points against a resolute Valencia side managed by Rubén Baraja.
Valencia initially took the lead in the 44th minute through Hugo Duro, but the experienced Polish striker Lewandowski equalized just before halftime, finishing from close range. He then converted a penalty early in the second half to give Barcelona the lead.
Despite missing key players like Frenkie de Jong, Gavi, and Ronald Araújo, Barcelona’s young talents stepped up. Flick started three 17-year-olds, including Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi, and debutant Marc Bernal. Yamal, who had recently faced personal tragedy, impressed once again following his standout performances in Spain’s Euro 2024 victory.
After the match, Lewandowski praised the team’s second-half performance and emphasized the importance of starting the season with a win, particularly in a challenging environment like Valencia’s Mestalla stadium.
Flick was satisfied with his team’s improvement after the break but acknowledged the mistakes made in the first half. Barcelona controlled much of the second half, with Valencia struggling to create clear chances. Lewandowski came close to completing a hat-trick in stoppage time but missed the target. Next, Barcelona will host Athletic Bilbao in their upcoming league match
