Barcelona Crushes Valencia 7-1 in LaLiga Comeback

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona delivered a stunning 7-1 victory over Valencia in LaLiga on Sunday, marking their first league win in four matches. The match, held at Montjuïc Stadium, saw Barcelona dominate from the start, scoring four goals within the first 24 minutes.

Frenkie de Jong opened the scoring in the third minute, followed by Ferran Torres in the eighth, Raphinha in the 14th, and Fermín López in the 24th. López added a fifth goal just before halftime, leaving Valencia reeling. Hugo Duro managed a consolation goal for Valencia in the 59th minute, but Barcelona responded with goals from Robert Lewandowski and an own goal by César Tárrega.

The victory ended Barcelona’s three-game losing streak in LaLiga, their worst run since 1988. “We needed this win after a tough period in the league,” said Fermín López. “It’s a big boost for the team and for my confidence.”

Valencia, meanwhile, remains in the relegation zone with 16 points, four points from safety. Captain José Gayá expressed frustration, saying, “We didn’t live up to the expectations of our fans or the jersey we wear.”

Barcelona’s performance was a stark contrast to their recent form, with key players like Raphinha and Lewandowski shining. The team now sits third in the league with 42 points, seven behind leaders Real Madrid.

The match also saw VAR play a pivotal role, as a penalty awarded to Valencia was overturned due to a prior foul. Barcelona’s dominance was evident throughout, with the team reaching 101 goals for the season across all competitions.

Elsewhere in LaLiga, Real Madrid maintained their lead with a 3-0 win over Valladolid, while Atlético Madrid stayed second after a 2-1 victory against Sevilla. Athletic Bilbao drew 0-0 with Leganés, and Getafe secured a 3-0 win over Real Sociedad.

Barcelona’s next challenge will be to maintain this momentum as they aim to close the gap on the league leaders.