Mestalla is rarely an easy place to visit but this Barcelona side made it all look all easy. Hansi Flick's side traveled to the Mestalla for match day four, leaving with a blistering 5-0 victory and establishing themselves as without question the top team in La Liga. Coupled with Real Madrid losing points at the weekend at the hands of Real Betis, the Catalans were able to claim sole ownership of the league's top spot.
- Four games played.
- Four wins.
- 12 points secured.
- A sensational 17 goals scored.
While the numbers are impressive on their own, their performances have been that much encouraging. Their performance against Valencia were no different.
Yamal gives Barcelona the head start
Six minutes was all it took for the visitors to find the opener. A sublime looped through pass from Fermn Lopez fell at the feet of Lamine Yamal, who executed a clinical left-footed scoop over the outstretched arm of Valencia keeper Stole Dimitrievski.
The strike absolutely deflated the home crowd, and as is the case with Hansi Flick's Barcelona, they put the game to bed very early on. Fermin doubled the lead in the 22nd minute after Lamine Yamal turned provider, which continued the pattern of Barcelona's dominance throughout the first-half, with the opposition unable to create chances at all.
Second-half demonstration of brilliance
If there was any talk in the Valencia dressing room at half time of launching a second-half assault to comeback from the two-goal deficit, Raphinha quickly dissolved that idea by finding the back of the net just five minutes into the second half.
Barcelona were rampant in control of the midfield, executing over 700 passes. They eventually added a fourth from a well taken strike by Pedri in the 79th minute. Yamal then completed his brace, making it 5-0 with five minutes remaining, and what was truly a remarkable evening.
The Flick affect and what it means
What is noticeable with this Barcelona side is not the volume of goals scored per game, but the ruthlessness displayed by Hansi Flick's attackers. Barcelona under previous coaches would look to kill a game after going 2 goals ahead, slowing the game down and completing the tempo of the match.
The same can't be said for this current team under Flick, that smells blood. The relentless pressure and the constant attempts for another goal on every occasion has instilled a much more clinical feeling into Barcelona's play.
The season may have just started but Barcelona sit top of La Liga ahead of the Champions League group stage, full of life, creativity and confidence.
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