Barcelona will head into the international break with a perfect record, topping the La Liga table with 12 points from four games. They hold a comfortable lead over second-placed Villarreal by five points and a significant seven-point margin over their bitter rivals, Real Madrid, who sit in fourth with a game in hand.
The Catalan club faced a challenging Valladolid side that had recently pushed champions Real Madrid to their limits. However, Barcelona, under the guidance of new manager Hansi Flick, displayed their impressive form and ruthlessness from the get-go.
 |
| Soccer Football: LaLiga action saw Barcelona take on Real Valladolid at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on August 31, 2024. Barcelona’s Raphinha celebrates scoring their fourth goal. Source: Reuters |
Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski set the tone for the match, each scoring within the first four minutes of play. They capitalized on counter-attacks, skillfully controlling long balls from Pau Cubarsi and Lamine Yamal before neatly finishing past the goalkeeper.
Jules Koundé added to the lead just before halftime, striking a rebound from a corner. Lewandowski and Raphinha continued their stellar performance in the second half, with the latter scoring twice more from close range to put the game out of reach.
The Brazilian forward, Raphinha, then turned provider, assisting new signing Dani Olmo, who had a memorable first start for Barcelona. Despite hitting the post twice and missing a sitter earlier, Olmo finally found the back of the net in the 82nd minute, assisted by Raphinha’s masterful pass.
Substitute Ferran Torres joined the goal fest, capping off a dominant display with another assist from Raphinha, who is now second in the La Liga top scorer race with three goals, just one behind Lewandowski.
 |
| Soccer Football: Barcelona’s Raphinha in action against Real Valladolid’s Luis Perez during their LaLiga encounter at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on August 31, 2024. Source: Reuters |
End of an era as the ‘Barca Way’ lays in ruins
LISBON — For Bayern Munich coach Hansi Flick, Friday’s remarkable 8-2 hammering of Barcelona must have felt like the most wonderful deja-vu imaginable.
Barca in new turmoil after Messi tells club he wants to leave
BARCELONA — Captain Lionel Messi has told Barcelona he wishes to leave the club immediately, a source confirmed on Tuesday, deepening the turmoil within the Catalan side less than two weeks after their humiliating 8-2 defeat by Bayern Munich.
Messi reluctantly staying at Barcelona after all
BARCELONA, Spain — Lionel Messi ended speculation about his future at Barcelona by announcing on Friday that he would reluctantly stay for another season rather than tackle his career-long club in court.
Frappart makes refereeing history as Juve beat Dynamo Kiev in Champions League
Stephanie Frappart became the first woman to referee a men’s Champions League game on Wednesday as Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 750th career goal in a 3-0 win for Juventus over Dynamo Kiev.
How many goal landmarks left for Lionel Messi?
Lionel Messi reached a new landmark Saturday by scoring his 643rd goal for Barcelona, equalling the record held by Pele for goals recorded for the same club, but who is football’s greatest marksman?
