Barcelona became the only club La Liga to make it four wins from their opening four games on Sunday with a comprehensive 5-0 thrashing of Valencia. Hansi Flick’s side simply blew away the opposition thanks to a brace from Lamine Yamal as well as goals from Raphinha, Fermin Lopez and Pedri.
Let’s take a look at three talking points from the game…
Fantastic Fermin wreaks havoc
It’s good to see Fermin being given some decent minutes by Hansi Flick, after really doing his utmost to earn that starting spot.
A player who embodies the
fighting spirit that the manager demands of his players, the midfielder can always be relied upon to be the difference-maker in a game.
Whether that be by executing an assist, as he did for Lamine and Raphinha, or by scoring himself, or even just because his energy often has opposition defences run ragged, his presence is well deserved.
With Rodri well in control in a defensive sense, that frees Fermin to wreak havoc where he’s most dangerous, and when he can.
Fermin’s goals mean he is the first Spanish player to score four times in Barcelona’s first four matches of a LaLiga season since Cesc Fabregas in 2011/12. He’s also the first player to score and provide an assist within the first 25 minutes of a LaLiga match in the 2026/27 season.
Fabulous!
Understated excellence from Rodri
Even if his performance wasn’t perhaps as headline-grabbing as Fermin’s, Rodri, on his 100th La Liga appearance, was excellence personified.
The calmness he exudes even under the most intense pressure is very reminiscent of Sergio Busquets in his prime, and his vision during the game was unmatched.
There was an ease to the way in which he switched through the gears, and he commanded the midfield throughout every transitional phase.
It was, without doubt, a masterclass in simplicity and effectiveness.
Barca can’t stop scoring
It wasn’t that long ago that culers were genuinely worried about where the goals were going to come from in this team.
No Lewandowski, Ferran or Marcus Rashford, who were responsible for 54 goals between them last season, gave rise to the notion that Barca were going to struggle in front of goal in 2026/27.
And yet, here we are, four games in and 17 goals scored. Better than, the three-goals-per-game average from 2025/26.
Yamal, Fermin and Raphinha have scored 14 of Barca’s goals from their first four matches. According to Mister Chip, it’s the most prolific attacking trio in the opening four matchday since the 1958-59 season (when Di Stéfano (7), Rial (4), and Puskás (4) bagged 15 for Real Madrid).
Raphinha has been electric down the middle with goals in every game, Lamine is playing with a smile on his face again and only a goal from Anthony Gordon is needed for an almost perfect start to the campaign for the new front three.
