Barcelona produced a scintillating attacking performance to dismantle Valencia 6-0 at the Estadi Johan Cruyff, with Fermín López, Raphinha, and Robert Lewandowski all grabbing braces.
The result lifts the defending champions to second in the La Liga table, just two points behind arch-rivals Real Madrid.
The breakthrough came in the 29th minute when Ferran Torres slipped in Fermín López, who cut inside before curling a precise finish into the corner.
Barcelona doubled their advantage shortly after half-time, with Marcus Rashford delivering his first assist for the club as he picked out Raphinha at the back post for a simple tap-in.
The floodgates opened from there. López struck again with a stunning long-range effort in the 56th minute, before Raphinha capitalised on poor Valencia defending to volley home his second ten minutes later.
Dani Olmo and youngster Marc Bernal added assists late on, with Lewandowski marking his first goals of the season by scoring in the 76th and 86th minutes to complete the rout.
It was a nightmare evening for Valencia, who failed to register a single shot on or off target throughout the match. Their defensive frailties were ruthlessly exposed as Barcelona dominated possession, created chances at will, and displayed a fluidity in attack that left their opponents chasing shadows.
The match also marked Rashford’s first start for Barcelona following his loan move from Manchester United. While he did not get on the scoresheet, his clever assist for Raphinha’s opener drew applause from the home supporters and hinted at his potential value to Xavi’s squad this season.
The emphatic win puts Barcelona back on track in the title race after falling five points behind Real Madrid heading into the weekend.
With the Champions League group stage beginning next week and a crucial trip to Newcastle on the horizon, the Blaugrana will be buoyed by a dominant display that showcased their depth, balance, and attacking firepower.
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