Yamal brace fuels 'nearly perfect' Barcelona as they rout Valencia 5–0

Lamine Yamal scored twice as Barcelona demolished Valencia 5–0 at Mestalla to keep their 100% start to the La Liga season, moving two points clear at the top after Real Madrid’s 1–0 loss at Real Betis.

Match summary: five different scorers, total control

Barcelona took the lead in the sixth minute when Yamal finished a delicate chip after Fermin Lopez’s perfectly weighted through ball. Lopez then made it 2–0 in the 22nd minute, rifling home from Anthony Gordon’s lay-off, before Raphinha tapped in his sixth goal of the campaign early in the second half.

Pedri added a fourth following a slick exchange with Dani Olmo, and Yamal completed his brace late on—again assisted by Olmo—to seal a comprehensive victory. A second Yamal goal in the first half was ruled out for a tight offside after a VAR review.

Flick: “Nearly perfect… but we can improve”

Hansi Flick described the display as “nearly perfect”, praising Barcelona’s control and dominance from start to finish. “We played a fantastic game… we controlled, we were dominant and this is what I want from the team,” he said. “Nothing is perfect, you always can improve. If it’s perfect then you can stop working.”

Flick also highlighted Yamal’s all-round contribution despite a minor knock that kept him out of Saturday’s team session. “Yesterday he trained separately from the group, but this morning we spoke and he told me he could play… He was involved in the pressing and defending, very connected and that’s very good,” Flick said.

Debut for Gabriel Jesus, Rodri’s first start

New signing Gabriel Jesus made his Barcelona debut as a late substitute, sending a low effort just wide, while Rodri started for the first time since his summer move from Manchester City before going off injured after a collision with Eric Garcia. Flick said of Rodri: “I’m delighted he’s part of the team… He is not only a leader on the pitch but also an incredibly reliable figure in the locker room.”

La Liga picture: Barca lead, Alaves surge

Barcelona are the only side with four wins from four in La Liga, having scored 17 goals and conceded just two. Unbeaten Alaves rose to second after Lucas Boye’s hat-trick inspired a 5–2 win over Osasuna, while Real Madrid sit third on nine points following their defeat in Seville.

Valencia’s woes continue

For Valencia, the result leaves them bottom of the table and still without a win this season. Coach Carlos Corberan pointed to the early goal as a turning point: “Conceding a goal so early, on their first or second attack, made everything much more difficult… It’s a difficult situation that we will navigate together.”