Barcelona did good business in the title race on Saturday evening. Already relegated Real Valladolid were beaten away from home: 1-2.
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Barcelona had a crucial task on Saturday evening in the race for the La Liga title, and they managed to get the job done with a hard-fought 1-2 win away at already relegated Real Valladolid.
While many expected a routine victory for the Catalans, the match turned into a tense and gritty battle that tested their resilience, concentration, and ability to respond under pressure.
Coming off the back of a dramatic 3-3 draw against Inter Milan in the Champions League semi-final first leg just days earlier, there were concerns about Barcelona's physical and mental fatigue. The return leg in Italy was just around the corner, scheduled for Tuesday, but before turning their focus back to Europe, they had to deal with domestic business in La Liga. With Real Madrid breathing down their necks, every point mattered. And despite Valladolid sitting bottom of the table and already mathematically relegated, there was no room for complacency.
Head coach Hansi Flick made a number of changes to the starting lineup, partly to rest key players ahead of the Champions League showdown, and partly to give some minutes to squad members who had been sidelined. Most notably, Marc-André ter Stegen made his long-awaited comeback after being out of action for seven months due to injury. It was a big moment for the German international, but his return didn’t go as smoothly as he might have hoped.
Barely five minutes into the game, Valladolid took a shock lead. A strike from Iván Sánchez took a wicked deflection, completely wrong-footing Ter Stegen and nestling into the back of the net. It was a cruel blow so early on, and a reminder that even a relegated side can still cause problems when given the opportunity. Barcelona, expecting a comfortable ride, suddenly found themselves chasing the game.
The rest of the first half saw a sluggish and somewhat disjointed Barcelona struggle to impose their usual rhythm. Without the creative spark of Frenkie de Jong in midfield and the pace of Raphinha up front, the team lacked urgency and penetration. Valladolid defended bravely and even looked dangerous on the counter. Flick’s decision to rotate looked risky, and many fans began to fear a costly setback in the title race.
But after the break, everything changed.
Recognizing the need for a spark, Flick brought on Raphinha and De Jong. Their impact was almost immediate. The tempo increased, passes became sharper, and the movement up front became more coordinated. Just over ten minutes into the second half, Raphinha latched onto a loose ball in the box and calmly slotted home the equaliser, reigniting Barcelona’s hopes.
It was a much-needed moment of quality, and the Catalan side didn’t stop there. Within five minutes, they turned the game on its head. This time it was Fermín López who stepped up, taking full advantage of some poor marking. Gerard Martín, operating on the left, delivered a low cross to the far side of the box where López was completely unmarked. The young midfielder didn’t hesitate, placing a composed shot into the far corner to give Barcelona a 1-2 lead.
With the score flipped, Barcelona looked more in control, but the final stages of the match were anything but easy. Valladolid didn’t give up and nearly found an equaliser late on. Juanmi Latasa had a golden opportunity to level the score, but Ter Stegen redeemed himself with a superb save, diving low to his right to keep the ball out. It was a defining moment that underlined the keeper's importance, even after such a long absence.
In stoppage time, Lamine Yamal had a chance to seal the win once and for all after a slick counter-attack, but the young talent hesitated and missed the opportunity. Thankfully for Barcelona, the miss didn’t come back to haunt them, and the referee’s final whistle confirmed the victory.
The win temporarily extends Barcelona’s lead at the top of the table to seven points over Real Madrid. However, Madrid have a game in hand and will play Celta de Vigo on Sunday afternoon. The title race is still very much alive, and everything could come down to the massive El Clásico showdown on May 11, when Barcelona host Real Madrid in what could be a title-deciding clash.
Until then, Flick’s side will look to build on this result, shift focus back to the Champions League, and try to balance their ambitions on both fronts. With the La Liga title in sight and a place in the Champions League final still up for grabs, May is shaping up to be a defining month in Barcelona’s season.
Updated: 11:18, 3 May 2025
