Fermin Lopez delivered a stellar performance, scoring twice and assisting twice, as Barcelona dominated Valencia to snap their four-game winless run in La Liga.

Frenkie de Jong opened the scoring just two minutes into the match with a low strike into the bottom corner, followed by a goal from Ferran Torres to double the lead.

Raphinha then capitalized on a clear break, calmly slotting the ball into an empty net, putting Barcelona 3-0 ahead within the first 14 minutes.

Lopez skillfully controlled a long ball over the top and finished past Liverpool-bound goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili before adding a second in first-half stoppage time when he reacted quickest to slot in the rebound from Raphinha's strike off the crossbar.

Diego Lopez's cross was converted by Hugo Duro for a Valencia consolation just before the hour mark.

Substitute Robert Lewandowski finished into the bottom corner for his 17th league goal of the season before Cesar Tarrega scored an own goal, as the hosts recorded their biggest La Liga win since they beat Real Valladolid 7-0 in August 2024.

It comes after their extraordinary 5-4 Champions League victory over Benfica on Tuesday.

Barca have scored 100 goals in just 32 games in all competitions under Hansi Flick, making him the second-fastest manager to reach that figure with the club after Helenio Herrera in 1959 (31 games).

Flick's side are third in the table, seven points behind leaders Real Madrid while Valencia - managed by former West Brom head coach Carlos Corberan - continue to struggle in 19th.

Barca host Serie A side Atalanta on Wednesday (20:00 GMT), with their Champions League last-16 place already confirmed.

Source: BBC

BDST: 1253 HRS, JAN 27, 2025
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