Lamine Yamal's Brace and Raphinha Matching Messi Propel Barcelona to 5-0 Win Over Valencia
Lamine Yamal scored two impressive goals while Raphinha matched a Lionel Messi record as Barcelona dominated Valencia 5-0 on Sunday. This win put Barcelona three points clear at the summit of the LaLiga table after Real Madrid suffered a surprise defeat against Real Betis.
Yamal Sparks Early Momentum
At the Mestalla, Barcelona started strong. In the sixth minute, Fermin Lopez delivered a clever pass to Yamal, who executed a first-time flick from a tight angle that hit the top corner. Two minutes later, Yamal had another goal disallowed for offside, but the visitors continued to press. In the 22nd minute, Lopez doubled the lead after being set up by Anthony Gordon inside the box. Valencia’s goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski made some saves before halftime, but Barcelona were in full control against a Valencia side struggling to find form this season, having secured just one point so far.
Raphinha Matches Messi's Record
Early in the second half, Barcelona extended their lead. A swift attacking move saw Yamal and Lopez combine, allowing Lopez to set up Raphinha for an easy tap-in from close range. This marked Raphinha’s sixth goal across four matches this season. He became the second player in the 21st century to net six goals in his team’s first four league games, equaling a feat previously achieved twice by Messi. Shortly afterward, Rodri struck the crossbar with a header, but Barcelona kept controlling the match.
Pedri and Yamal Seal the Win; Jesus Debuts
As the game neared its end, Pedri added a fourth goal in the 79th minute after receiving a pass from Dani Olmo and finishing crisply into the bottom corner. Olmo then played a key role again five minutes later, feeding Yamal, who finished clinically to complete the 5-0 rout.
The match also featured the long-awaited debut of new signing Gabriel Jesus, who recently joined from Arsenal. The convincing victory helped Barcelona maintain a perfect winning start in LaLiga this season.
Barcelona Eye Continued Success
With 15 points from five games, Barcelona sit comfortably atop the standings. Coach Hansi Flick will want his team to keep this strong scoring form ahead of challenging fixtures in both domestic and European competitions. Raphinha aims to keep his streak alive by scoring in a fifth straight game, a milestone reached only by Cesar Rodriguez and Zlatan Ibrahimovic for the club.
- Date: 6 September 2026
- Final Score: Valencia 0 - 5 Barcelona
- Goal Scorers: Lamine Yamal (2), Fermin Lopez (1), Raphinha (1), Pedri (1)
- Debut: Gabriel Jesus for Barcelona
- LaLiga Standings Position: Barcelona 1st, 15 points from 5 matches
