Barcelona Thrash Valencia 5-0 with Yamal’s Brace and Raphinha Matching Messi’s Record

Lamine Yamal scored twice while Raphinha equalled a long-held record set by Lionel Messi as Barcelona crushed Valencia 5-0 on Sunday. This win gave Barcelona a three-point lead over Real Madrid atop the LaLiga standings after Madrid's surprising loss to Real Betis.

Yamal Sets the Pace Early at Mestalla

The match kicked off perfectly for Barcelona when Fermin Lopez delivered a clever pass to Yamal in the sixth minute. The young Spaniard flicked the ball first-time from a tight angle into the top corner. Yamal almost added another goal two minutes later but was flagged offside. Barcelona then doubled their lead in the 22nd minute as Lopez, set up by Anthony Gordon, finished confidently inside the box. Despite a fine save by Valencia’s goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski, Barcelona dominated throughout against a struggling Valencia team that has managed only one point so far this season.

Raphinha Scores Quickly After Half-Time, Matching Messi’s Record

Just four minutes into the second half, Yamal and Lopez combined once more, allowing Raphinha to tap in from close range. That marked Raphinha's sixth goal in his first four league games this season, putting him alongside Messi as the only players this century to reach six goals in their team’s opening four matches. Shortly after, Rodri nearly scored with a header that hit the crossbar, but Barcelona maintained control.

Pedri and Yamal Complete the Rout; Jesus Debuts

With 11 minutes left, Pedri added a fourth goal after receiving a precise pass from Dani Olmo and curling it into the bottom corner. Olmo again created danger five minutes later, assisting Yamal who finished clinically to complete the 5-0 victory.

The game also featured Gabriel Jesus's debut for Barcelona following his transfer from Arsenal, adding excitement for the fans. The win keeps Barcelona unbeaten in LaLiga this season.

Barcelona's Strong Start and Upcoming Challenges

After five matches, Barcelona sit on 15 points, firmly leading the table. Coach Hansi Flick will want this attacking momentum to continue as the team prepares for both European and domestic contests. Meanwhile, Raphinha aims to keep scoring, seeking to net in a fifth straight game, a milestone previously reached only by Cesar Rodriguez and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

• LaLiga Standings: Barcelona - 15 points from 5 games

Upcoming Fixtures:

• 9 Sept 2026, 19:45: Barcelona vs Feyenoord (Champions League)
• 11 Sept 2026, 22:00: Sevilla vs Valencia (LaLiga)