Barcelona 5-0 Valencia: Yamal brace sends leaders eight points clear
An in-depth analysis of the tactical battle ahead

Valencia

Barcelona
Barcelona moved to the top of La Liga with a 5-0 victory over Valencia at Estadio de Mestalla on Sunday, September 6. The result leaves Barcelona on 9 points from three games, while Valencia remain 18th with one point from three matches and sit eight points behind the leaders.
How it happened
Lamine Yamal opened the scoring in the sixth minute, finishing a move supplied by Fermín López. Fermín then doubled Barcelona’s advantage in the 22nd minute after an assist from Anthony Gordon, sending the visitors into half-time 2-0 ahead. Raphael Dias Belloli made it 3-0 in the 50th minute, with Fermín providing his second assist. Pedri added a fourth in the 79th minute from Daniel Olmo Carvajal’s pass, before Yamal completed his brace five minutes later, again assisted by Olmo.
The numbers
Barcelona controlled 74% of possession and completed 719 accurate passes compared with Valencia’s 203. The visitors also produced 24 total shots, including 18 from inside the box, while Valencia managed three shots in total and two on target. Barcelona’s 10 shots on goal forced five saves, and the clean sheet extended their perfect three-game league start.
Who decided it
Fermín López shaped the result with one goal and two assists in 75 minutes, earning a match rating of 9.6. He created three key passes and registered three shots on target, while Lamine Yamal matched the attacking impact with two goals, four shots on target and five key passes across 90 minutes. Fermín now has three league goals in three appearances.
Why it matters
Barcelona’s third straight win keeps them first with a goal difference of plus 10 and 12 goals scored. Valencia’s draw-loss-loss run leaves them 18th, with one goal scored, four conceded overall and only one point from their opening three fixtures.
By the numbers
The data behind Valencia vs Barcelona, in 4 charts.
The season so far
Wins, draws and losses side by side
Two different teams?
Home and away form for Valencia
Who wins more often?
Share of league games won this season
How they line up
Most-used formations this season
The table as it stands
| Logo | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barcelona | WWW | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 9 | |
| 2 | Real Madrid | LWWW | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 3 | 9 | |
| 3 | Real Betis | WLWW | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 9 | |
| 4 | Deportivo La Coruna | WWDD | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 8 | |
| 5 | Alaves | WDW | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 7 | |
| 6 | Osasuna | WWD | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 7 | |
| 7 | Atletico Madrid | LWDW | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 7 | |
| 8 | Sevilla | LWW | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 6 | |
| 9 | Athletic Club | WWLL | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 6 | |
| 10 | Levante | WDL | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 4 | |
| 11 | Racing Santander | LWLD | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 4 | |
| 12 | Rayo Vallecano | WLDL | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 10 | 4 | |
| 13 | Real Sociedad | DWLL | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 4 | |
| 14 | Espanyol | LLW | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 3 | |
| 15 | Getafe | LWL | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | |
| 16 | Villarreal | LLDD | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 2 | |
| 17 | Celta Vigo | DLLD | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | |
| 18 | Valencia | LLD | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | |
| 19 | Elche | LLD | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 1 | |
| 20 | Malaga | LDL | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 1 |