Hansi Flick’s impressive start as Barcelona head coach continued on Saturday as the Blaugrana destroyed Real Valladolid 7-0 in their latest La Liga outing, inspired by a Raphinha hat-trick.
After beating Athletic Bilbao last week, the Catalans set about Valladolid with ruthless efficiency, and became the only team to win all four of their opening games. Brazilian winger Raphinha opened the floodgates on 20 minutes and then the veteran goal machine Robert Lewandowski soon added the second with his fourth goal of the campaign. It looked like Valadolid would stay in the match until the second half but when Jules Kounde poked home a third it was game over.
Raphinha was on fire, and two goals in ten minutes completed his hat-trick before summer signing Dani Olmo made it 6-0 with his second goal for his new club. Olmo was outstanding for Spain at the Euro 2024 championships and he looks to be an astute signing for Barca, while Olympics hero Ferran Torres made it seven to round off the perfect day in Catalonia.
The early season La Liga 2024 betting odds reckon the Blaugrana will be the side to push Real Madrid the hardest and, with 12 points from four games Flick’s men sit happily at the top of the table.
Atleti late show keeps them in touch
In our SBOTOP featured match, a 92nd-minute strike from Angel Correa gave Atletico Madrid a hard earned 1-0 win away to Athletic Bilbao. In an entertaining clash neither side could break the deadlock until stoppage time when Alexander Sorloth picked up the ball in the middle of the park and laid it off for the Argentine wide man, and he rounded the keeper before rolling the ball into an empty net.
At the other end of the pitch, Juan Musso had a successful debut for Los Rojiblancos after he moved to Madrid on loan from Atalanta. Atleti stopper Jan Oblak was sidelined with a sickness and Musso stood in and he made a brilliant save to keep out a searing strike from Oihan Sancet. It was a great day for the 30-year-old keeper while midfield ace Marcos Llorente also impressed in a deeper role at right back, keeping the dangerous Nico Williams in his pocket and also supporting the Atleti attack.
Los Rojiblancos moved up to second while Bilbao are hovering around mid-table.
Ten man Villarreal survive the Mestalla
The Yellow Submarine moved up to third place after playing out a 1-1 draw in a feisty local tussle away to Valencia. The hosts were desperate for a result having lost their opening three games and they came out on the attack. They have been competitive in all three games so far and could easily have picked up some points and Los Ches probably thought it was their day after a period of dominance saw Hugo Duro give the hosts a lead in front of a loud and passionate Mestalla crowd. But, just before the half time, former Leicester City star Ayoze Perez levelled for Villarreal against the run of play. When Papa Gueye made a dangerous challenge on Hugo Guillamon the visitors were reduced to ten men early in the second half but, try as they might, Valencia could not make the numerical advantage count as Luis Rioja fired a shot narrowly wide.
This was Valencia’s first point of the new campaign and Los Ches stay rock bottom of the table. But, with almost 60 per cent possession, 22 shots to nine and five to two on target this could have produced a win for the hosts, and probably should have.
First loss for Leganes and first win for Mallorca
In other La Liga 2024 news, a lacklustre performance in Madrid led to a first league defeat for the minnows of Leganes as they went down to a 1-0 home loss at the hands of Real Mallorca. It was the visitors’ first victory of the 2024/25 campaign and they joined their hosts on five points as they both sit in the top half of the early league table.
Man of the match Vedat Muriqi earned an assist as he headed on to Dani Rodriguez who nodded in the only goal of the game. Leganes were rather toothless throughout the match, rarely threatening to equalise and Mallorca held on for a valuable three points. Los Pepineros have just signed Borussia Dortmund striker Sebastien Haller on loan, and fans are hopeful that he could be the man to give them a cutting edge on their first season back in the top flight since 2020. Haller is star quality and he will give his all for the Leganes cause.
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