Barcelona demonstrated their offensive prowess in spectacular fashion, demolishing Valencia 7-1 in LaLiga on Sunday, with coach Hansi Flick lauding his team's relentless pursuit of goals.
The Catalans put on a masterclass, particularly in the first half, with Fermín López finding the net twice, while Frenkie de Jong, Raphinha, Ferran Torres, and Robert Lewandowski all contributed to the scoring feast. The victory marked a significant milestone as Barcelona reached 101 goals across all competitions this season.
"I love this hunger the team has, that shows in the matches, especially today," Flick remarked in his post-game press conference. "It's not finished with the 2-0 or the 3-0. They go to the end of the match. This is what I love and what we like to play."
The match quickly turned into a rout as Barcelona struck three times within the opening 15 minutes through De Jong, Torres, and Raphinha. López added two more before halftime, effectively settling the contest. While Hugo Duro managed to score for Valencia, Lewandowski's goal and a César Tárrega own goal completed the emphatic victory.
Despite the impressive win, Barcelona still faces an uphill battle in the title race, sitting seven points behind leaders Real Madrid, though they have closed the gap to three points behind second-placed Atlético Madrid. Flick acknowledged the challenging league position, stating, "LaLiga is not nice to see at the moment," but expressed optimism about the team's trajectory.
The match also highlighted the strong team spirit within the squad, particularly through an unexpected gesture from midfielder Gavi. Flick revealed a touching moment when Gavi, typically eager for playing time, suggested giving minutes to Pablo Torre instead. "You can see the team how they are connected. It's fantastic to see as a coach. I love Gavi for this. You know he wants to play every match and to say this in this situation, it's top," Flick shared.
Looking ahead, Barcelona will turn their attention to Wednesday's Champions League fixture against Atalanta, having already secured their place in the last 16. The match also saw Wojciech Szczęsny make his LaLiga debut in goal, with indications from Flick suggesting he may retain his position as first-choice goalkeeper in the immediate future.
