S Poddar
Barcelona has begun their new La Liga season in promising style under new gaffer Hansi Flick, securing an away win at Valencia.
In the keenly contested fixture, Barcelona kept falling back every time Hugo Duro scored the goal, the most recent one coming when the attacker found the net from a Diego Lopez pass in the process beating Marc-Andre ter Stegen. The fixture was held off for most of the first half until Duro found the net through in the 44th minute of the first half. In the additional time of the first half, Duro almost doubled the lead, but his effort was full-hearted on the line. However, Robert Lewandowski levelled the fitting with a wicked pass from Lamine Yamal.
Even after Valencia’s good performance in the first half, Barca turned the heat on in the second. Lewandowski put them ahead from the spot-kick only three minutes into the second half after Raphinha was fouled in the box. The 17-year-old Yamal was a constant menace on the flanks, his dribbling causing Valencia no end of trouble.
Valencia, however, were still dangerous and made the most out of some sloppiness at times in midfield in order to get on the ball and counter-attack well, but Flick’s team saw out the rest of the game fairly comfortably.
With Barca second last season – albeit 10 points behind champions Real Madrid – they will want to use this result as a stepping stone ahead of their Aug. 24 clash with Athletic Bilbao.
