Barca fizzle out in final game
Barcelona’s final game of the 2025-26 season ended in disappointment as Valencia came from a goal down to win 3-1 and hand Hansi Flick’s side a sixth league defeat of the season.
Unlike their opponents, the Catalans had nothing to play for and it showed. Flick was without Raphinha and Lamine Yamal due to illness and injury and also chose to rest key players such as Pedri, Joan Garcia and Pau Cubarsi which goes quite a long way to explaining Barca’s lack of intensity.
Hansi Flick did use the game to
hand Ronald Araujo a start, although he was replaced at half-time by Xavi Espart after appearing to take a knock. Unfortunately it was a tough game for the young right-back, the hope will be he can learn plenty from his outing.
Marc Casado was also given some minutes late on ahead of a big summer for the midfielder. The midfielder is said to be heading for talks with the club about his future after slipping down the pecking order this season.
Barcelona still end the season eight points clear of nearest challengers Real Madrid and with a vastly superior goal difference.
As Flick admitted afterwards, the real work is about to start as Barca being planning for the next campaign in earnest.
“I’m pleased with the team’s level throughout the season,” he told reporters afterwards. “Now everyone wants to play in the World Cup, it’s normal for their heads to be elsewhere. This match suits me well to start analyzing things.”
Lewandowski signs off with a goal
The best thing about Saturday’s match was undoubtedly the sight of Robert Lewandowski signing off his time at Barcelona in traditional Lewandowski-style – with a goal.
The striker went close in the first half when he hit the post with a header but had been having a quiet game until the hour mark when he broke the deadlock.
The veteran had Ferran Torres to thank for an inadvertent assist. The Spain star fired goalwards and could only watch as Lewandowski managed to divert the ball past goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski at the far post.
It probably wasn’t a surprise to see Lewandowski score against Valencia, as he’s made a real habit of netting against Los Che, bagging 10 goals in seven games against them. They’ll certainly be glad to see the back of him.
The goal was number 120 in 193 appearances for Lewandowski in Barcelona colors, his 14th in La Liga this season and the perfect way for Lewy to sign off a brilliant four years with the club.
Christensen returns to action for Barca
Andreas Christensen made his first appearance since December for Barcelona at Mestalla in a week where it’s been reported he’s agreed a new two-year deal with the club.
The Dane has returned from a serious knee injury and is reportedly eager to show what he can do in pre-season and earn a place in the first team for the 2026-27 campaign.
Christensen looked understandably rusty in his second-half cameo. A poor pass from Xavi Espart left him stranded for the equaliser and he looked very much like a player lacking match rhythm during his time on the pitch.
The 30-year-old will now get the summer off, as Denmark failed to qualify for the World Cup, before heading back to Barcelona to try and revive his career.
The big question will be whether Christensen can finally stay fit. With talk continuing that Barca want to sign a center-back, and Gerard Martin and Eric Garcia having both shone in the backline this season, he also faces his work cut out getting back into the team.
