There were plenty of takeaways from this fixture even before the first whistle, from the controversy surrounding Lamine Yamal’s mistreatment to Raphinha’s late arrival, which cost him a place in the starting lineup. The emphatic 6–0 victory underlined that Barcelona are ready for the challenges September has in store.
In the Johan Cruyff Estadi, in front of only 6,000 fans, Hansi Flick’s squad finally displayed their true face, crushing Valencia 6-0. The Catalans start the week full of confidence after a great collective performance in which Fermin Lopez was the brightest player, while Raphinha came alive after the World Cup qualifiers. The match also revealed some positive signs in the defensive line.
Fermin proved he is one of Barca’s jewels and must not be sold in January or the summer
The 22-year-old started for the first time in the league, earning Flick’s trust in a match where the team was missing its No. 10, Lamine Yamal. He did not fall short of expectations. With two terrific goals and constant association with Pedri and Ferran, Fermin carried the team to secure their first three home points of the season.
He showed himself as one of Barca’s future leaders and will surely be crucial not only this season but for years to come. His decision to stay in Barcelona, fulfilling his dream of building a new era with the Catalans, looks to be the right one. Soon, he will step into the renovated Spotify Camp Nou, which is expected to become the team’s home again in just a few weeks.
Lamine was not missed as Raphinha took the team to another level
In recent matches, Barca’s wingers had struggled to create danger against rivals using strong defensive and high-pressure tactics. Lamine, Rashford, and even Raphinha often looked frustrated and unable to play as they normally do.
Against Valencia, however, the story was completely different, at least in the second half. The first 45 minutes were marked by a lack of action on the wings, with Roony having a poor performance and Rashford showing some improvement compared to his last games.
But in the second half, Raphinha exploded, making Lamine’s absence barely noticeable. The Spaniard will be crucial during the season, but this match proved that even without him, the team can still dominate. That is good news for Flick, who seemed uncomfortable after the draw against Rayo Vallecano.
The defense starts to find its true balance after Iñigo’s departure
The first four league matches have been marked by instability in the defensive line. García, Araujo, Cubarsí, and Christensen all rotated minutes, but only Eric García has secured a place as a regular starter. Against a very weak Valencia, García and Cubarsí looked solid and hardly faced any danger, with Valencia only managing one shot on target up to the 70th minute.
More importantly, both defenders contributed in attack, linking up effectively with midfielders and participating in Barca’s offensive buildup. For a team expected to win everything, this involvement will always be key. Their agility and pace fit perfectly into Flick’s system, which requires defenders capable of playing with 50 meters of space behind them.