Barcelona Player Ratings vs Valencia: Ferran Torres Shines Bright! Lewandowski’s Stand-in Scores Hat-Trick as Lamine Yamal Seals Copa del Rey Triumph
Barcelona’s Second-Choice Striker Sends Flick a Strong Message in Valencia Rout
Ferran Torres delivered a statement performance as Barcelona crushed Valencia 5-0 to secure a spot in the Copa del Rey semifinals.
The former Los Che player, who spent 14 years at the club, netted a first-half hat-trick to haunt his old side. Torres struck early in the third minute, finishing Alejandro Balde’s pinpoint pass. The forward doubled the lead in the 17th minute with a clinical finish, upheld after a VAR check.
Just six minutes later, Fermin Lopez joined the scoring spree, racing onto Pedri’s exquisite lofted pass, rounding the goalkeeper, and slotting into an empty net. Torres completed his hat-trick on the half-hour mark, tucking the ball neatly into the corner after a clever setup by captain Raphinha.
Valencia nearly pulled one back early in the second half, but Umar Sadiq’s effort was ruled offside. Their frustration continued as a potential penalty for the Nigerian striker was also overturned for offside.
Lamine Yamal came close to a sensational goal, hitting the post with a curling shot, but he eventually got his reward when a deflected strike slipped past Dimitrievski in the 59th minute.
Despite the fans hoping for a repeat of last month’s 7-1 league thrashing, Barcelona settled for a commanding 5-0 win.
Player Ratings
Goalkeeper and Defence:
- Wojciech Szczesny (7/10): Made crucial early saves and commanded his area well.
- Jules Kounde (7/10): Solid and dependable, though not heavily involved offensively.
- Eric Garcia (7/10): Had a quiet night but remained reliable when needed.
- Pau Cubarsi (8/10): Key block on Fran Perez’s shot and given an early rest.
- Alejandro Balde (8/10): Provided a delightful assist and was a consistent attacking threat.
Midfield:
- Frenkie de Jong (7/10): Calm and efficient performance.
- Pedri (9/10): Dictated the tempo brilliantly with incisive passes.
- Fermin Lopez (8/10): Too hot for Valencia to handle and finished his goal expertly.
Attack:
- Lamine Yamal (8/10): Showed dazzling skills, despite a timid goal. A joy to watch.
- Ferran Torres (10/10): Delivered a masterclass with a clinical hat-trick, making a strong case as a top striker option.
- Raphinha (8/10): Worked tirelessly, contributing two assists.
Substitutes and Manager:
- Inigo Martinez (7/10): Steady and composed at the back.
- Gerard Martin (6/10): Struggled slightly against Sadiq.
- Dani Olmo (7/10): Lively and precise in possession.
- Marc Casado (7/10): Showed determination and grit.
- Hector Fort (N/A): Limited game time.
Hansi Flick (8/10):
His tactical tweaks, including Torres’ inclusion, proved spot on. Barcelona’s ruthless first half sealed the victory, allowing Flick to rest key players with early substitutions.
