Barcelona made a performance in front of the Camp Nou Al-Ashq stadium on Sunday by beating Real Valladolid 4-0. Robert Lewandowski scored an impressive brace – denied only a hat-trick through woodwork, twice – while Pedri and Serge Roberto added goals of their own.
Report: Barcelona – Real Valladolid | La Liga table | Upcoming matches
In addition to Lewandowski, a few new recruits submitted their marks. Ravenha was an electrician from the winger, while Jules Conde made his debut for the club and quickly ditched the goal line to keep Marc-Andre ter Stegen clean.
jump to: Player ratings | Best/Worst Performer | Highlights and Highlights | Post-match quotes | Key stats | Upcoming matches
fast response
1. Summer deals transform Barcelona
Barcelona’s summer signings have changed the team and the atmosphere around the Camp Nou. Lewandowski scored two goals against Valladolid to take his tally to four goals in three matches with his new club, while Ravenha was also exciting as Barcelona scored seven points from his opening three matches.
While Lewandowski scored the goals, Rafinha was the most impressive in the first half. The Brazilian’s pace, change of direction and the quality of his deliveries were too much for the visitors. He made four chances alone in the first 15 minutes, one of which Lewandowski headed inside the post, and then made the opening goal in the 24th minute, which Lewandowski acrobaticly turned into the net.
After Ousmane Dembele set up Pedri for Barcelona’s second goal before the break, Lewandowski added his second goal of the evening in the 64th minute with a skewed effort after more good work from Dembele. The Polish striker is the first player to score four goals in his first three La Liga games since 2011, when Radamel Falcao pulled off the same feat. He then hit the woodwork for the second time late to score the fourth unintentionally for Sergi Roberto.
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Barcelona’s investment was not limited to strikers this summer. They finally managed to hand Conde his debut here after he was taped to LaLiga on Saturday. He started at right-back before finishing at the center of defence, hitting the goal line late.
It was all very exciting for the house fans, who rocked Lewandowski’s name to main music from “The Flintstones” throughout the match. There were 83,972 at the Camp Nou for this match after attending over 90,000 against Manchester City in the middle of the week and 81,104 in the season opener against Rayo Vallecano. The crowds dwindled to just over 50,000 by the end of last season. Licking the paint applied to the band has brought the vagrants back into the seats.
2. The bench looks increasingly narrow
While recruitment has been planned for Barcelona, the exit has not taken place. Having managed to make room within their spending limits in La Liga to score Conde to face Valladolid, Director of Football Matteo Alemani said the expenses would be necessary before Thursday’s transfer deadline to ease the financial pressure on the club.
It is no secret who Barcelona would like to move forward. Coach Xavi Hernandez has made clear his feelings for Sergino Dest in recent weeks. In the third consecutive league game, the US international wasn’t even named to the bench in Sunday’s win.
The other players who might leave were on the team but didn’t arrive. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been an unused substitute as talks continue over a move to Chelsea. Sources have told ESPN that Barcelona is reluctant to pay €25 million in transfer fees, while Chelsea are willing to go for €20 million.
Meanwhile, Memphis Depay was left on the bench. A few uncertain days await him, but it looks like Frenkie de Jong could survive the summer’s roller coaster with interest from the Premier League. He was a substitute against Valladolid but was the first player to be brought in in the second half.
3. Proof of the ability of the bald to cover Alba
There was a second consecutive start for Alejandro Balde at left-back. The 18-year-old’s appearance this season has been one of the biggest surprises so far as he competes with veteran Spain international Jordi Alba for a spot in Xavi’s squad.
Xavi made the brave decision to throw Baldy at Real Sociedad last weekend and showed his faith in him once again by giving him 90 minutes against Valladolid. Baldi is a rocket when he carries the ball forward, but he also shows defensive intelligence. This means that Barcelona may decide not to sign the left-back before the window is closed.
He seems more than ready to offer at least competition with Alba, even if he has yet to replace him permanently. Things are looking bleaker for Gerard Pique, who sat alongside Alba on the bench, has yet to appear in the league this season and now, with the addition of Conde, has a longer list of central defenders ahead of him in the selection of former teammate Xavi. ranking.
Player ratings
Barcelona: Marc-Andre ter Stegen 7; Jules Conde 7, Ronald Araujo 6, Eric Garcia 7, Alejandro Balde 6; Sergio Busquets 6, Pedri 7, Jaffe 7; Rafinha 8, Robert Lewandowski 9, Ousmane Dembele 7
Subs: Frenkie de Jong 6, Anso Fati 6, Sergi Roberto 6, Frank Casey 6, Ferran Torres 6
Real Valladolid: Jordi Masip 6; Luis Perez 5, Joaquin Fernandez 6, Javier Sanchez 6, Sergio Escudero 5; Monchu 4, Kike Perez 6, Alvaro Aguado 5; Ivan Sanchez 6, Sergi Guardiola 5, Anwar 6
Subs: Oscar Plano 6, Rocky Mesa 6, Tony Villa 6, Sergio Leone 6, Roberto Arroyo 6
Best and worst performer
Best: Robert Lewandowski, Barcelona
Ravenha was good, but Lewandowski’s impact goes beyond just putting the ball in the net. Playing his own association brings others into the game, and his movement creates space for others, as evidenced by Pedri’s goal.
Worst: Moncho, Valladolid
The former Barcelona midfielder dreamed of the championship upon his return to the Camp Nou, but was a passenger in the first half, sitting in front of Valladolid’s defense quadruple. It was taken off at rest.
Highlights and Highlights
Lewandowski spent an evening at the Camp Nou. A couple of goals for the Poland international, neither of which were particularly obvious.
Can we take a moment to appreciate this guy’s hamstring flexibility? Raising your shoe so high, in a losing race, is one thing, another thing to precisely aim it past the goalkeeper towards goal. Exciting work from Lewandowski.
Lewandowski’s arrival pic.twitter.com/WkxqMuPXtE
– ESPN FC (ESPNFC) August 28, 2022
However, it has become more exciting. Not only did this rear wheel drive put Camp Nou on its feet, but it also stirred up most of the internet.
BACKHEEL LEWANDOWSKI WOW Objective 😱 pic.twitter.com/YVFXFfoi8F
– ESPN FC (ESPNFC) August 28, 2022
After the match: What the managers said, the players said
“Apart from the goals, I would like to highlight Lewandowski’s timing,” Xavi told broadcasters after the match. “Everything he does and maybe the fans don’t see much, in terms of ball, is extraordinary. He is a natural leader. It’s incredible how he adapts to the group. He works so hard, he’s an example.
Key Statistics (Provided by ESPN Statistics and Information)
Rafinha scored his assist for Barcelona this season. He made only three goals in 35 matches he played for Leeds United last season in the Premier League.
Thanks to his assists in Pedri’s goal and Lewandowski’s second, Dembele has now made 13 appearances in 19 matches this year. That’s more than any of Europe’s top five leagues, with Lionel Messi (12 assists in 18 games) and Kevin De Bruyne (11 in 20) Dembele’s closest rivals.
next one
Barcelona: The Blaugrana Head to Seville on Saturday at 3PM ET (Live on ESPN+), then head to Cádiz at 12:30PM ET on September 10.
Real Valladolid: Busilla They host AlmerÃa on September 5th at 3PM ET (Live on ESPN+) and then head to Girona at 3PM ET on September 9th.
