Barcelona thrash Valencia to take sole La Liga lead

Barcelona turned Mestalla into a stage for a five-goal display. Lamine Yamal scored twice, while Fermín López, Raphinha and Pedri completed a 5-0 win over Valencia that sent Barcelona clear at the top of La Liga.

The atmosphere had already turned hostile before kickoff. Temperatures approached 34 degrees, the animation stand remained empty in protest, and supporters jeered the Valencia players, coach Carlos Corberán and club president Kiat Lim. Valencia showed its nerves from the start, although Danjuma briefly threatened with a dangerous cross before the move was ruled out for offside.

Yamal needed only six minutes to open the scoring. After receiving a precise pass from Fermín, the Barcelona forward lifted a delicate left-footed finish over goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski. He soon had another effort ruled out for offside, but the disallowed goal did little to calm the crowd. Mestalla rang with chants calling for Corberán to resign, while insults from the Curva Nord intensified after the group entered the animation stand in the 19th minute.

Barcelona controlled the match through Pedri and Rodri, who made his first start, while Valencia struggled to create clear chances. Fermín doubled the lead in the 22nd minute with a powerful left-footed strike. Danjuma came closest for the hosts, but Joan García made a fine save in the 32nd minute and stopped him again in a one-on-one chance after halftime.

Raphinha added Barcelona’s third five minutes into the second half after Fermín supplied an exquisite assist. Pedri made it 4-0 with a low cross-shot in the 78th minute, and Yamal completed the “manita” three minutes from time. Many Valencia supporters left before the final whistle. Those who stayed continued to voice their anger as the players and Corberán stood in the center of the field and absorbed the jeers.

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Corberán, resign.