Valencia 0-5 Barça: Recap
A sensational performance and another destruction of Valencia
Barcelona are three games away from the Copa del Rey title as the Catalans secured a spot in the semi-finals thanks to a dominant 5-0 win away to Valencia at Mestalla in Thursday’s quarter-final. The Blaugrana were in full control from the very beginning and took their chances early on to clinch a comfortable victory and a spot in the Final Four of this season’s Spanish Cup.
FIRST HALF
After getting utterly demolished in the first half against Barça 10 days ago, Valencia coach Carlos Corberán completely changed his starting XI and approach looking for a response: his team came out in a 5-4-1 formation, pressed higher up the pitch and tried to force mistakes from Barça to use the energy from the home crowd to avoid another opening period nightmare.
Unfortunately, for the second time in 10 days, Valencia were utterly demolished by a Barça side that somehow played even better than they did in the first half of their first meeting. With Pedri at the controls of absolutely every move, the Catalans were untouchable and unplayable in possession, using brilliant movement and passing to tear the Valencia defense apart and create chance after chance.
And just like they did in the first meeting, the Blaugrana were brutally efficient up front: after a half-hour the tie was already settled, thanks to a first half hat-trick by local boy Ferran Torres and a great goal by Fermín López. Three of the four goals featured key involvements from Pedri, who dominated Valencia so much that the home team got frustrated and started to target The Wizard with physical challenges and bad fouls that drew multiple yellow cards.
The halftime whistle came to end a dream first half for Barça, who were pretty much through to the semis after yet another destruction of Valencia. Could they keep a clean sheet, avoid injuries and add more goals in the final period?
SECOND HALF
Valencia had to play for pride in front of the home crowd and tried to go forward in search of some consolation, and almost found it twice through striker Umar Sadiq, who scored a goal and earned a penalty in the first 10 minutes only to be denied both times by the offside flag.
Barça then ended any hopes of a Valencia miracle at the hour mark thanks to a neat finish by Lamine Yamal, who added a goal to his wonderful performance on the night. Hansi Flick then started using his substitutions to give some extra rest to his best players and bring the likes of Iñigo Martínez and Dani Olmo back from injury, while Valencia were well and truly done and just waiting for the final whistle.
The Blaugrana were in full control until the end and kept the clean sheet when the final whistle came to end Thursday’s quarter-final and send Barça to semis. The Catalans played amazing football from start to finish and gave the home crowd no chance to impact the game in any way. Brilliant performance, great goals, and a spot in the Final Four guaranteed without any issues. Well done, boys!
Valencia: Dimitrievski; Aarons, Mosquera, Diakhaby (Tárrega 64’), Yarek, Vázquez; Pérez (López 64’), Guillamón (Barrenechea 81’), Pepelu, Canós (Jaime 71’); Sadiq (Mir 71’)
Goals: None
Barcelona: Szczesny; Kounde (Fort 79’), Eric, Cubarsí (Iñigo 46’), Balde (Martín 46’); De Jong, Pedri (Casadó 64’); Yamal, Fermín, Raphinha (Olmo 64’); Ferran
Goals: Ferran (3’, 17’, 30’), Fermín (23’), Yamal (59’)
Source: barcablaugranes.com
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