Three talking points from Valencia vs Barcelona

Barca fizzle out in ultimate sport

Barcelona’s ultimate sport of the 2025-26 season led to disappointment as Valencia got here from a objective all the way down to win 3-1 and hand Hansi Flick’s aspect a sixth league defeat of the season.

In contrast to their opponents, the Catalans had nothing to play for and it confirmed. Flick was with out Raphinha and Lamine Yamal on account of sickness and damage and likewise selected to relaxation key gamers comparable to Pedri, Joan Garcia and Pau Cubarsi which works fairly a protracted method to explaining Barca’s lack of depth.

Hansi Flick did use the sport at hand Ronald Araujo a begin, though he was changed at half-time by Xavi Espart after showing to take a knock. Sadly it was a tricky sport for the younger right-back, the hope can be he can study a lot from his outing.

Marc Casado was additionally given some minutes late on forward of an enormous summer season for the midfielder. The midfielder is alleged to be heading for talks with the membership about his future after slipping down the pecking order this season.

Barcelona nonetheless finish the season eight factors away from nearest challengers Actual Madrid and with a vastly superior objective distinction.

As Flick admitted afterwards, the true work is about to start out as Barca being planning for the subsequent marketing campaign in earnest.

“I’m happy with the workforce’s stage all through the season,” he advised reporters afterwards. “Now everybody desires to play within the World Cup, it’s regular for his or her heads to be elsewhere. This match fits me effectively to start out analyzing issues.”

Lewandowski indicators off with a objective

The most effective factor about Saturday’s match was undoubtedly the sight of Robert Lewandowski signing off his time at Barcelona in conventional Lewandowski-style – with a objective.

The striker went shut within the first half when he hit the submit with a header however had been having a quiet sport till the hour mark when he broke the impasse.

The veteran had Ferran Torres to thank for an inadvertent help. The Spain star fired goalwards and will solely watch as Lewandowski managed to divert the ball previous goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski on the far submit.

It in all probability wasn’t a shock to see Lewandowski rating towards Valencia, as he’s made an actual behavior of netting towards Los Che, bagging 10 objectives in seven video games towards them. They’ll definitely be glad to see the again of him.

The objective was quantity 120 in 193 appearances for Lewandowski in Barcelona colours, his 14th in La Liga this season and the right method for Lewy to log out a superb 4 years with the membership.

Christensen returns to motion for Barca

Andreas Christensen made his first look since December for Barcelona at Mestalla in per week the place it’s been reported he’s agreed a brand new two-year take care of the membership.

The Dane has returned from a severe knee damage and is reportedly keen to point out what he can do in pre-season and earn a spot within the first workforce for the 2026-27 marketing campaign.

Christensen regarded understandably rusty in his second-half cameo. A poor go from Xavi Espart left him stranded for the equaliser and he regarded very very like a participant missing match rhythm throughout his time on the pitch.

The 30-year-old will now get the summer season off, as Denmark did not qualify for the World Cup, earlier than heading again to Barcelona to try to revive his profession.

The massive query can be whether or not Christensen can lastly keep match. With discuss persevering with that Barca need to signal a center-back, and Gerard Martin and Eric Garcia having each shone within the backline this season, he additionally faces his work lower out getting again into the workforce.