After defeats to Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, Barcelona staged a much-improved performance against Valencia, notably securing a 4-2 victory at home.
Barcelona’s win came on the back of a stellar display from Robert Lewandowski, who bagged a hat-trick on the night.
Lewandowski makes history
Lewandowski’s performance on the night saw him make history. He has now become the first Barcelona striker to score two headers in a single La Liga match since the legendary Samuel Eto’o in 2005.
Lewandowski is not just scoring goals, he’s winning points for his team. Lewandowski currently leads La Liga, having earned Barcelona a whopping 17 points through his goals.
Fermin Lopez’s rapid rise to prominence
Another star for Barcelona in the Valencia win was Fermin Lopez, as he notably scored the opener in the 22nd minute.
The goal marked yet another milestone for the young attacker, who has now racked up eight goals in all competitions. It must be noted that Fermin was playing in the third division of Spanish football last season.
In addition to his tally of eight goals, Fermin’s last four goals have come against the likes of Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Napoli and Valencia, which is an indicator of his ability to perform in big matches.
Araujo’s Double-Edged Sword
While Ronald Araujo brings defensive solidity to Barcelona, his performance against Valencia raises concerns, as he notably conceded a foul that led to a penalty.
He leads La Liga defenders this season with a combined stat of 6 red cards, penalties conceded, and errors leading to goals.
