Playing at their temporary home, the Estadi Johan Cruyff, Barca dominated the first half with 74% possession and 11 shots, one of which found the back of the net. Fermin Lopez, a player who attracted interest from Chelsea but opted to stay at Barca, validated his decision with a clever run between Valencia's midfield and defense. Receiving a delicate touch from Ferran Torres, Lopez curled a right-footed shot into the far corner, reminiscent of Thierry Henry in his Arsenal days.

The scoreline could have been different had Torres, a former Valencia product, been more clinical in front of goal.

Lopez scores the opening goal for Barca against Valencia in their La Liga match on 14/9/2025. Photo: Reuters

Lopez scores the opening goal for Barca against Valencia in their La Liga match on 14/9/2025. Photo: Reuters

The second half saw Hansi Flick's men unleash a torrent of attacks on Carlos Corberan's Valencia side. Five goals between the 53rd and 86th minutes completed the rout, resembling a tennis "straight-sets" victory for Barca.

While Torres and young Swedish talent Roony Bardghji were relatively quiet, new signing Marcus Rashford made an impact before being substituted. His pinpoint cross for Raphinha's goal, which made it 2-0, exposed Valencia's defense, allowing the Brazilian forward to score.

Fermin completed his brace with a stunning left-footed strike from outside the box. His ability to receive the ball between the lines and quickly turn to shoot from distance continues to be a key strength for the 22-year-old.

Raphinha then added a second goal with a powerful volley before Robert Lewandowski came off the bench and showed Torres how a number 9 operates. The Polish striker's two quick goals sealed a comprehensive 7-0 win for Barca. Flick's team sits just two points behind league leaders Real Madrid, and are now preparing for a challenging trip to Newcastle's St James’ Park for their Champions League group stage opener on 19/9.

Valencia didn't manage their first shot until the 71st minute, ending the match with just two attempts. It took several seconds after the final whistle for a stunned Corberan to finally leave the pitch. If not for their name, it would be hard to recognize this team as the Valencia once named the world's best club by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) in 2004.

Barca players celebrate a goal against Valencia. Photo: Reuters

Barca players celebrate a goal against Valencia. Photo: Reuters

Valencia's glory days have faded since the 2018-2019 season when they won the Copa del Rey against Lionel Messi's Barca and qualified for the Champions League for two consecutive years. The architects of that success—manager Marcelino, sporting director Pablo Longoria, and CEO Mateu Alemany—were all sacked shortly after.

The reason, as Marcelino later explained to The Guardian, was simple: Valencia's squad was determined to win the Copa del Rey, but owner Peter Lim wasn't. The Singaporean businessman feared prioritizing the cup would jeopardize their La Liga position and Champions League qualification, a crucial source of revenue. Despite finishing 4th in the league and securing Champions League football, Marcelino was dismissed for disobeying the owner.

Marcelino, now managing Villarreal, views Lim, 72, as someone who doesn't understand football. Since Lim acquired a majority stake in Valencia in 2014, the club has seen 17 managerial changes involving 12 different managers (with caretaker manager Voro taking charge six times). This includes the disastrous four-month tenure of Gary Neville.

Valencia's goal becomes target practice for Barca. Photo: Reuters

Valencia's goal becomes target practice for Barca. Photo: Reuters

Once boasting stars like Santiago Canizares, Roberto Ayala, Ruben Baraja, Gaizka Mendieta, Pablo Aimar, David Albelda, David Villa, David Silva, Joaquin, and Juan Mata, Valencia's current squad is largely unknown. Their most recognizable player is 30-year-old captain Jose Luis Gaya. The most valuable players are academy products Diego Lopez and Javier Guerra.

Plagued by debt for years, Valencia has sold more players than they've bought, even going through transfer windows without any new signings. This summer, their most valuable asset, academy graduate Cristhian Mosquera, was sold to Arsenal for over 17 million USD. Their Nou Mestalla stadium project, started in 2007, remains unfinished.

For six consecutive seasons, Valencia has been a mid-table La Liga team. With their diminished status, the 0-6 defeat against a less-than-full-strength Barca is not surprising. Barca were without the injured Lamine Yamal, De Jong, Balde, and Gavi, while Raphinha, Lewandowski, and Olmo started on the bench.

Hoang Thong