Yes, it was an easy game against a newly promoted team, but still, whoever is following Barcelona is certainly not yet convinced about this team, since the echoes from the past seasons are still there. But, Xavi and his men gave a 83000 fans a relaxed match, and a convincing win: Barcelona – Valladolid 4-0. In the end, they could have won even more convincingly, and it’s now obvious that it will be hellishly difficult for the rivals in La Liga this season to defend against Xavi’s attacking potential. Maybe individuals can be stopped sometimes, but there are so many of them, that someone will always jump out, and that was the case tonight, against a newly promoted Valladolid.Back-to-back games with four goals.Xavi’s Barcelona is starting to click 🚌 pic.twitter.com/2XSBIJpJnV— B/R Football (@brfootball) August 28, 2022 It was known that Robert Lewandowski would deliver the goals upon his arrival in Catalonia. The only dilemma is how much. He was accurate twice against Sociedad, as many times in the duel with Valladolid, and the first in the match – on a pass by another newcomer, Raphinha – marked that at 34 years and seven days he became the oldest player in La Liga to score in the first three rounds in the 21st century. The team broke the previous record managed by his still current teammate, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, set last season. In a recognizable style, Barca didn’t let the guests breathe, easily entered their penalty area and crowned one such attack in the middle of the second half with another goal by Lewandowski. His fourth in two consecutive games. Apart from him, the fans at the Nou Camp had a reason to get up from their seats when the young Pedri shook the net of Jordi Masip towards the end of the first half to prove how productive he can be when he appears from the second plan.12 – Ousmane Dembélé 🇫🇷 has provided 12 assists in LaLiga in 2022, no player has made more in Europe’s big five leagues this year (Lionel Messi 🇦🇷also 12). Stellar. pic.twitter.com/zoaD3sZYq3— OptaJose (@OptaJose) August 28, 2022 In Catalonia, they can be satisfied that the team is finally firing from all cylinders, but apart from Lewa (expected) and Pedri (already proven), the crowd, along with coach Xavi can be satisfied with the the awakened Ousmane Dembele. As much as he annoys everyone with his off the field antics (contract extension, night life etc.), the Frenchman is a magician on the grass and Xavi knows this, and that is why he insisted so much on his stay at the Nou Camp. This time, Dembele had two assists and hit the bar, just to confirm to everybody what he can do. Barca and Xavi will want this kind of Dembele to show up in against stronger opponents. LA LIGA – MATCHDAY 3FridayGirona – Celta 0-1 (0-0)/Aspas 49/Real Betis – Osasuna 1-0 (1-0)/Iglesias 34/SaturdayElche – Real Sociedad 0-1 (0-1)/Mendez 20/Rayo Vallecano – Mallorca 0-2 (0-1)/Muriqi 13, Lee 64/Almeria – Sevilla 2-1 (1-1)/Ramazani 42, Sadiq 55 – Torres 30/SundayGetafe – Villareal 0:0Barcelona – Valladolid 4-0 (2-0)/Lewandowski 24, 64, Pedri 43, Roberto 90+2/23.00: (7.00) Espanyol (4.40) Real Madrid (1.47)Monday21.00: (3.70) Cadiz (3.10) Ath.Bilbao (2.30)23.00: (4.10) Valencia (3.40) Atletico Madrid (2.05)***odds are subject to change
