Lamine Yamal Scores Twice as Barcelona Thrash Valencia 5-0, Gabriel Jesus Debuts

Barcelona extended their perfect start to the La Liga season, thrashing Valencia 5-0 at Mestalla with Lamine Yamal scoring twice, moving three points clear at the top of the table on 12 points from four matches.

Fermin Lopez opened the scoring in the 22nd minute before Yamal doubled the lead six minutes later. Raphinha, deployed again as Barcelona's central striker, added a third early in the second half, tapping in from close range, before Pedri made it four with a clinical finish set up by Dani Olmo. Yamal completed his brace late on, latching onto another Olmo through-ball to round off the rout, taking his tally to four goals in his last two matches following his double against Rayo Vallecano.

"I think we played a fantastic game," said head coach Hansi Flick. "We controlled the game, we were dominant. This is what I want to see from the team." Midfielder Rodri made his first start since joining from Manchester City, while new signing Gabriel Jesus made his long-awaited Barcelona debut, coming on as a substitute in the closing stages just days after completing his move from Arsenal, and went close to marking the occasion with a goal of his own.

Defender Eric Garcia was forced off early in the first half after a collision with Rodri left him needing treatment, but the disruption did little to slow Barcelona's dominant display as they outscored their opponents 17-2 across their opening four league matches.