Barcelona have 17 goals from their first four league matches, and the latest five came in a 5-0 win away to Valencia. That number is the headline, but the bigger point is how many different threats Hansi Flick already has. Lamine Yamal struck after five minutes, L. Lopez drove the game forward, and Raphinha kept up a scoring run that is becoming hard to contain.

The result in Valencia vs Barcelona also left Barcelona top of La Liga after the round. Four games into the 2026-27 season, the attack already looks fully up to speed.

Barcelona's attack has too many answers already

Yamal set the tone almost immediately, scoring after five minutes by running in behind the Valencia defence. It was his fourth goal of the campaign, which is a sharp return in four appearances and another sign that he is adding end product to the dribbling and chaos he already brings.

Lopez then made the game tilt even further Barcelona's way. He scored the second goal, and while one report on the move credited the assist to the wrong player, the larger point stands: Lopez was heavily involved in the best attacking passages and gave Barcelona real drive between the lines.

BBC Sport's live reporter, quoted by bbc.co.uk, wrote: "Lopez, Barcelona's best player on the afternoon, sprinted the length of the attacking half to set up the former Leeds winger for his 50th goal in the Spanish top flight."

That goal took Raphinha to six in La Liga already. It also brought up his 50th goal in the Spanish top flight, a notable milestone so early in the season. Barcelona are not relying on one hot streak either, because Yamal is scoring, Lopez is influencing games centrally and the combinations around the box keep changing.

Dani Olmo slipped Yamal through for that early opener, and later combined with Pedri for a one-two before Pedri scored Barcelona's fourth. Olmo has 2 league goal contributions in 4 appearances, which fits his role as a connector rather than the finisher everything runs through.

The scoreline also said plenty about Valencia

Barcelona's fluency was the main story, but Valencia made the game easier than they should have. A planned protest saw a section of home fans delay entry until the 19th minute, a nod to 1919, the club's founding year, and the mood around Mestalla only worsened from there.

This defeat leaves Valencia on 1 point from four league matches, with only 1 goal scored. When a team starts that slowly, an early concession against opponents this aggressive can turn the match into damage limitation very quickly.

BBC Sport's live reporter summed up the afternoon as follows: "Barcelona maintained their perfect start to the season with a rampant 5-0 win against bottom-placed Valencia."

That description fits. Barcelona have now scored 17 and conceded only 2 in four matches, which is why this start looks more convincing than a brief burst of finishing form.

Early table lead, early warning for the rest

Being top after four matches does not settle anything in September, but Barcelona are already three points clear and the attack is arriving from several directions. Raphinha has six league goals, Yamal has four, and the supporting cast is contributing in ways that make them difficult to defend across a full match.

A lot can change over a season, yet this was another game where Barcelona looked faster, cleaner and more decisive than the side in front of them. The immediate fact is simple: they have won all four league matches, scored 17 times and left Mestalla with another 5-0 result.

FAQ

Why have Barcelona started the season so strongly in attack?

Barcelona have scored 17 goals in their first four league matches, and the threat is coming from several players rather than one scorer. Raphinha has six league goals, Lamine Yamal has four in four appearances, and the combinations around Fermin Lopez, Dani Olmo and Pedri have kept the attack moving at speed.

How important was Fermin Lopez in Barcelona's win over Valencia?

Lopez was central to the 5-0 win. He scored Barcelona's second goal and also created Raphinha's strike after driving forward through the attacking half. BBC Sport's live reporter described him as Barcelona's best player on the afternoon, which matched the influence he had on the result.

Are Barcelona only winning because of their attack?

No. The attack has been the headline, but Barcelona have also conceded just two goals in four league matches. That gives Hansi Flick's side a strong early balance, and it is a big reason they are already top of La Liga after this round.

What has gone wrong for Valencia at the start of the season?

Valencia's start looks bleak after four league matches. They have taken only one point and scored one goal, and the atmosphere around the club has worsened with a planned protest that saw a section of supporters delay entry until the 19th minute against Barcelona.

Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →