Flick’s machinery is not joking! Barcelona crushed Valladolid and with three goals in the first half – by Raphinha, Lewandowski, and Kounde – secured the victory already before the break. The Brazilian noted the second-half brace, Olmo found the net after two posts, and the sub Ferran Torres added another goal, making it 7-0! Beside Olmo’s two posts, Lewa also hit one, completing Barca’s hat-trick of posts. After all we saw today at Camp Nou, the Catalans could have net at least ten goals.3 – Raphinha has scored the first hattrick of his career in all competitions across Europe’s top five leagues, scoring 2+ goals for the second time for Barcelona, having done so in April 2024 against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.Unleashed. pic.twitter.com/VrGPuhSyjH— OptaJose (@OptaJose) August 31, 2024 With a maximum of nine points in the initial three La Liga rounds, Barcelona were alone in the Spanish championship’s top spot. More importantly, the fiercest rivals, Real Madrid, were four points behind. After beating Valencia, Athletic Bilbao, and Rayo Vallecano, no one expected less of Hansi Flick’s crew against Valladolid, the team that filled all the columns (1 win, 1 draw, 1 loss).After Marc Bernal’s injury, the German strategist gave a chance to another youngster, Bernal’s namesake, Casado, in Barca’s midfield. The trio – Raphinha, Lamine Yamal, and Robert Lewandowski led the attack. Dani Olmo was also set to debut as a starter.It was meant to beAlready after four minutes, Yamal found Lewandowski on the far post, the Pole’s shot came to Olmo, but the Spaniard hit the post from close range! Barca’s latest reinforcement didn’t miss five minutes later when he found the net after Valladolid’s keeper Karl Hein, who recently arrived from Arsenal, deflected the ball after Raphinha’s attempt, but was offside and the goal was disallowed. The Estonian was impeccable once more in the 14th minute when he stopped Lewa’s strike from distance.However, in the 20th minute, there was no mistake! Pau Cubarsi sent a perfect pass into a space for Raphinha and the Brazilian easily broke the deadlock – 1-0! Only four minutes later, the experienced Pole made it 2-0, using Yamal’s ideal cross and scoring with an excellent first touch!Barca waited for the next chance 18 minutes – until the 42nd. Again, Olmo and again the post, this time from the edge of the area, but there was no luck for the former RB Leipzig player. However, the Catalans still netted the third time before the break! In the second minute of added time, Jules Kounde was the first to get a rebound inside the box, making it 3-0 with a precise effort!Ten minutes after the break, Olmo first had a chance himself, but his first-touch attempt was feeble, and then assisted Raphinha, whose close-range strike was stopped by Hein. Two minutes later, Lewandowski’s effort crashed against the post! That was the third time Barca players hit the post, so the lead could have clearly been much more convincing. Nevertheless, in the 64th minute, Raphinha took care of making it more convincing by scoring his second goal today! Once more, the Catalans quickly reached the opponents’ box. Lewandowski went down – perhaps after a foul – but the ball rebounded to the Brazilian, who put it into the empty net, making it 4-0!In the 72nd minute, Raphinha completed a hat-trick after another one-on-one goal and Yamal noted his second assist of the game – 5-0! Eight minutes before the end, Valladolid were destroyed altogether after Olmo finally netted after a fantastic solo effort – 6-0! The seventh goal came only minutes later, through the sub Ferran Torres!14 – Lamine Yamal has been involved in 14 goals in 42 appearances in LaLiga (6 goals and 8 assists), the most by a player before turning 18 in the competition in the 21st century, surpassing Bojan Krkić (13 – 10 goals and 3 assists). Unstoppable. pic.twitter.com/VFnncpKzFu— OptaJose (@OptaJose) August 31, 2024 With this outstanding triumph, Barcelona kept the perfect score in La Liga and sent the message to all the rivals that they are ready for the title. On the other hand, Valladolid’s players and staff will have many problems to solve during the international break.LA LIGA – MATCHDAY 4SaturdayBarcelona – Valladolid 7-0 (3-0)/Raphinha 20, 64, 72, Lewandowski 24, Kounde 45+2, Olmo 83, Torres 85/20:00: (2.95) Ath.Bilbao (3.25) Atl.Madrid (2.45)20:15: (2.85) Espanyol (3.10) Rayo Vallecano (2.80)22:30: (2.85) Valencia (3.50) Villareal (2.55)22:30: (2.55) Leganes (3.00) Mallorca (3.05)Sunday18:00: (2.50) Osasuna (3.20) Celta (2.95)18:00: (2.00) Alaves (3.45) Las Palmas (4.30)20:00: (2.40) Sevilla (3.45) Girona (2.90)20:15: (3.60) Getafe (2.95) Sociedad (2.40)22:30: (1.33) Real Madrid (5.70) Betis (10.5)***odds are subject to change***
