Robert Lewandowski scored a brace as Barcelona came from behind to record a 2-1 victory over Valencia on the opening weekend of the 2024-25 La Liga campaign.
Valencia took the lead in the 44th minute of the contest, with last season's leading goalscorer Hugo Duro heading a cross from Diego Lopez into the back of the net.
However, Barcelona were level in the final exchanges of the first period when Lewandowski was on hand to convert a driven cross from Lamine Yamal, who started despite only just returning to training after helping Spain win Euro 2024.
Hansi Flick's side then took a 2-1 lead from the penalty spot early in the second half, with Lewandowski making no mistake after Cristhian Mosquera had brought Raphinha to the ground.
Barcelona's midfield absences meant that Marc Bernal and Marc Casado lined up in the middle for the Catalan giants, and it proved to be an impressive victory for last season's runners-up in Spain's top flight.
There was more good news for Barcelona in the second half, as Pedri made his return from injury as a substitute, with the midfielder recovering faster than expected from the knee problem that he suffered while representing Spain at Euro 2024.
Real Madrid will again be La Liga title favourites this season, so it was imperative that Barcelona opened their campaign with a victory, and they just managed to edge past a Valencia side that failed to register a shot on target aside from their goal.
VALENCIA VS. BARCELONA HIGHLIGHTS
44th min: GOAL! Valencia 1-0 Barcelona (Duro)
Valencia make the breakthrough in the 44th minute of the contest at Mestalla, with Duro heading a brilliant cross from Diego Lopez into the back of the net.
Lopez was given too much time in a wide area, and he delivered an excellent cross towards Duro, who planted his header into the back of the net to spark jubilant celebrations from the home supporters.
45th+5 min: GOAL! Valencia 1-1 Barcelona (Lewandowski)
Barcelona level the scores in the latter stages of the first period, with Lewandowski poking into the back of the net from close range after Yamal had driven a cross into the penalty box.
Flick's side manage to make it 1-1 in the closing stages of the first period.
48th min: GOAL! Valencia 1-2 Barcelona (Lewandowski, penalty)
Lewandowski puts Barcelona in the lead with a brilliant penalty after Raphinha had been fouled inside the box by Mosquera.
The contact was minimal on Raphinha, but it was enough for a spot kick to be awarded, and Lewandowski made no mistake to net his second of the match.
MAN OF THE MATCH - ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI
© Imago
Barcelona needed one of their senior players to step forward in this match, and it would be fair to say that Lewandowski answered the call, as the Poland international came up with a brace to win the contest for Flick's side.
Lewandowski's first was a true striker's goal, while his second was a sublime penalty which gave goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili no chance at all.
There will again be pressure on the 35-year-old to score the goals for Barcelona this season, and he demonstrated on Saturday that he is still more than up to the task.
VALENCIA VS. BARCELONA MATCH STATS
Possession: Valencia 38%-62% Barcelona
Shots: Valencia 5-16 Barcelona
Shots on target: Valencia 1-8 Barcelona
Corners: Valencia 3-8 Barcelona
Fouls: Valencia 10-12 Barcelona
BEST STATS
3 - Hansi Flick is the third German manager to take charge of Barcelona in LaLiga, after Hennes Weisweiler and Udo Lattek. The previous two made their competition debut with a victory. Debut. pic.twitter.com/zJdyYsaOg0
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) August 17, 2024
3 - Barcelona are the only team to have started three under-18 players in a @LaLiga match since at least 1998/99, doing so twice already: v Almería in May 2024 (Yamal, Cubarsí and Fort) and today v Valencia (Yamal, Cubarsí and Bernal).
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) August 17, 2024
Youth. pic.twitter.com/cAzrAiz2Cx
10 - Lamine Yamal has been involved in 10 goals in 38 games in @LaLigaEN (five goals and five assists); only Bojan Krkić (13, 10 and three) and Ansu Fati (12, 11 and one) were involved in more goals before the age of 18 in the competition in the entire 21st century.
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) August 17, 2024
Jewel. pic.twitter.com/WNGLa59wyL
WHAT NEXT?
Barcelona will be bidding to make it successive wins at the start of the new La Liga campaign when they welcome Athletic Bilbao next weekend.
Valencia, meanwhile, will aim to bounce back from their opening-weekend defeat when they head to Celta Vigo on Friday.
There could be movement at both clubs in terms of the transfer window before their next fixtures, and the two sides are expected to be active in the latter stages of the market.
Matt Law
