Barcelona enjoy themselves at Mestalla at Valencia's expense

Barcelona turned Mestalla into a showcase of attacking abundance, sweeping aside Valencia 5-0 to take sole possession of the La Liga lead. The victory followed defeats for Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid, giving the Catalan side an opportunity it did not waste.

The decisive partnership was Fermín López and Lamine Yamal. Lamine opened the scoring in the fifth minute by meeting Fermín's pass with the outside of his left foot. He thought he had scored again soon after, but technology ruled the goal out by the width of a toe. Fermín then made it 2-0 in the 21st minute.

Raphinha extended the lead four minutes after halftime, Pedri added a fourth in the 78th minute, and Lamine completed the scoring five minutes later. Barcelona's attack repeatedly unsettled Valencia's five-man defense, with Fermín influential in his movement, shooting and combination play.

Barcelona appeared close to its strongest lineup, with Rodri making his first start and Gabriel Jesus included among the substitutes. Valencia, by contrast, entered the match with eight absences, only one goal and one point in the standings, and an angry fan base. The frustration was directed particularly at the club's management and owner Peter Lim.

The atmosphere turned against Valencia almost immediately, with boos spreading through Mestalla from the directors' box to the pitch. Barcelona, confident and prolific, found itself facing a team already struggling under the weight of its absences, position and public anger.