For the net

Talk about a steamrolling.

On September 14th, FC Barcelona harnessed their unique witchcraft. By dominating a sorry Valencia side en route to a 6-0 win, they’ve once again managed to terrify so many.

Even with a few key players missing/injured—Including future Ballon D’or winner Lamine Yamal—Barca looked polished and ruthless.

Match Recap

The first goal came in the 29th minute, when Fermin Lopez converted a side-footed finish from a Ferran Torres pass.

The second half unfolded as a goal-fest. Super-sub Raphinha struck in the 53rd minute, followed by another from Lopez in the 56th (from long-range). Raphinha then bagged his brace in the 66th minute after some more defensive snoozing from Valencia.

To finish off Valencias devastation, Robert Lewandowski came off the bench and scored twice in the final quarter.

Valencia offered next to nothing (Especially In the first half). They had no shots on target until well into the game, limited possession, and very few creative attacking ideas. Barcelona’s control was undeniable, especially upon looking at their possession/shot stats. That and the general threat they pose from their precision.

Barcelona’s X-Factor: Team Depth

The composure, decision making, and finishing that this deep Barca squad displays is something to behold. These factors essentially manifest defensive lapses in the teams they go up against.

And the fresh legs they bring on only pour gasoline on the flames. With an almost perfect blend of youth and experience, it’s very hard for squad rotations to weaken their side. If anything, it reinforces their match quality across the board.

When opportunities open up, Barca is the team that you can count on to sharp shoot at those opportunities.

Tactical Analysis: Hansi Flick edition

Barca Manager Hansi Flick is a smart cookie.

He made sure that Barcelona played in a way that would force Valencia into frequent mistakes.

I also suspect he instructed them to use the pitches width and deliver pinpoint crosses. Some of the best chance creation came from the flanks (especially from Rashford), so I feel as though I’m right. Gap exploitation is a time-tested strategy, so why not use it for an entire game?

From that point on, all he’d have to tell his squad is to turn up the intensity.

Which, he obviously did.

Implications for Barca

A result like this is huge, even for a club of Barca’s caliber. Though they came off some less than convincing performances, this match has shown that they can STILL overwhelm opponents. Even without certain wonderkids.

And that is what will matter over the course of a long season. Back to back titles for Barcelona, anyone?

Valencia’s plight

This match brought up some serious issues for Valencia. They effectively do not have an offensive threat, their defense is discombobulated, and they seem incapable of responding to pressure. It looks as though some tactical fixes, morale boosts, and maybe even some personnel changes are in order. If they want to stay in La Liga, that is.

Conclusion

This win was more than a bounce-back for Barcelona.

With their efficient finishing and impressive cameos from the bench, they’ve shown they’re always capable of instilling fear into opponents.

This win has set them up nicely for upcoming fixtures. Not only that, but I am certain that it has bolstered belief among players and fans alike.

My verdict is: Barca should just keep feeding these players whatever they’re feeding them.