Barcelona 5-2 Valencia
A clash between the best and the fourth-best teams in La Liga last season should have been one to savour in the Nou Camp.
Yet the build-up to this contest was overshadowed somewhat by the La Liga 2019 news story of the week — Valencia boss Marcelino’s sacking.
It was a move which surprised many, including this SBOBET writer, and probably Valencia fans.
Especially after he brought them their first major trophy for more than a decade against Barcelona at the end of last season.
So how much did the departure of Marcelino affect them here?
Highlights of the game
In truth, it’s hard to tell. The impact of the club’s decision will need to be assessed over some time.
However, there’s no doubt it was ridiculously harsh and suggested a split between management and owner, whose aim was to qualify for the money-spinning Champions League.
That Marcelino managed both — in his two seasons with the club, he twice led them to fourth place and qualification for Europe’s premier competition – makes his dismissal even harder to fathom.
Nor could it be form, as the former Sevilla and Villarreal coach not only clinched the Copa del Rey in May but made a decent start to the new campaign.
Prior to the international break, Valencia drew at home to Real Sociedad and lost to Celta Vigo before beating Real Mallorca 2-0.
Either way, once this match started the focus was back on the football.
Former Barcelona midfielder and one-time Real Madrid assistant Albert Celades was now in charge and was naturally keen to make his mark.
Equally, Barca were keen to gain some form of revenge for the defeat which cost them the chance of a league and cup double.
They were also keen to win on a day in which arch-rivals Real Madrid triumphed. They had already dropped five points in their first three matches and are still without Lionel Messi and Ousmane Dembele.
They did have Luis Suarez back, though, and that ultimately proved to be a key difference.
The La Liga 2019 betting odds on the Uruguayan being on the scoresheet may have been low, but who would have predicted a 16-year-old scoring for Barca again, this time just two minutes into his first start for the club.
Ansu Fati turned in a Frenkie de Jong cross just one minute and 50 seconds in, to be precise. He then returned the favour with an assist to the Dutchman four minutes later.
By the time he departed on the hour to a wonderful ovation, he could be assured he had scored twice in just 116 minutes of first-team football.
By then, Kevin Gameiro had another goal to his collection against Barcelona after Rodrigo Moreno filtered a pass to his streaking strike partner, whose shot went in off the post.
However, Valencia were still two behind when Fati left the fray after Gerard Pique converted a loose ball from close range six minutes after the restart.
Suarez replaced the teenager and duly opened his account for the season with a right-foot strike before adding his second with a rasping low drive.
But for former Barca goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen, there would have been more goals for the hosts as the shot-stopper made back-to-back saves to keep out Antoine Griezmann, CarlesPerez and Arthur.
Valencia added a late consolation goal through Maxi Gomez but this capped a week to forget for Los Che, even if the emergence of Fati will take the spotlight of owner Peter Lim’s decision over the next few days.
Afterwards, coach Ernesto Valverde labelled the youngster’s display as abnormal, given that almost no player so young is at the level to feature for the Catalan side in such an effective way.
Watch this space is the message from Catalonia.
Key statistics
Fati (16 years and 318 days) has become the youngest player to both score and assist in a La Liga game in the 21st century.
Barcelona now have 32 wins to Valencia’s 13 in their meetings with 17 draws. Valencia have failed to win at the Camp Nou in their last five attempts.
Both games ended in draws last season: 1-1 at the Mestalla and 2-2 at the Nou Camp.
What’s next?
It’s the start of the Champions League for both these clubs.
Valencia have a quick turnaround now and travel to London to play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday (September 17).
Barcelona are in action on the same night away to Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund.
Domestically, Barcelona travel to newly promoted Granada next weekend, while Valencia entertain Leganes the following day.
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