FC Barcelona remains the favorite for the championship title in La Liga. The victory against the already departed Real Valladolid came about extremely tedious. Goalkeeper Marc-André Ter Stegen celebrated his comeback.
The championship is within reach for FC Barcelona: The team of coach Hansi Flick had a long time to assert itself 2-1 (1-0) with the already relegated team of Real Valladolid. Nevertheless: The Catalans claim the top of the table on Saturday evening (3.5.2025) La league And are now seven points ahead of Real Madrid, who has to compete against Celta Vigo on Sunday.
Before it started, some a Barcelona supporter should have rubbed their eyes a little. Hansi Flick had offered nine changes compared to the Champions League appearance last Wednesday against Inter Milan. The most striking: Marc-André Ter Stegen stood between the posts after his eight-month injury break due to a patella tendon tear.
B-Elf does not ignite initially
Only Gerard Martin and Pedri remained in the starting eleven. Barcelona started with a B-team. The focus of the sporting goals seems to be the European premier class for those responsible for the Catalans. Next Tuesday (9 p.m.) there will be a second leg in the Guiseppe-Mazza Stadium in Milan.
And this youth selection took a little time to find yourself. Barcelona dominated the game as usual, but Valladolid took his first chance. With an extremely unfortunate shot that flew over the German goalkeeper and fell like a stone into the goal behind him, Iván Sánchez scored the 1-0 lead (6th) for the Nordspaniar.
Ter Stegen has not much to do
And just five minutes later, Raúl Moro had the great chance for the second goal for Valladolid when he ran towards the Barcelona goal alone over the left side. But Ter Stegen dipped in time and parried. It was one of the very few scenes in which the German national goalkeeper could be characterized.
It took up to the 15th minute until Barcelona came to the first option: striker Pau Víctor’s header could not place his header exactly enough, goalkeeper Andqré Ferreira steered the ball over the crossbar.
Overall, the flick team was very difficult to find gaps in the compact opponent defensive. Valladolid focused primarily on not collecting a goal. This also succeeded until the half -time whistle.
The gates come with the stars
In the second half, Flick brought his stars like Frenkie de Jong or Raphinha. Lamine Yamal came into the game in the mid -first half for the injured Dani Rodriguez. There was a permanent pressure from Barcelona, which Raphinha crowned 1-1 (54th), a shot from the penalty area border.
And just six minutes later it was Fermin that turned the game in favor of the Catalans. With a targeted low shot from 14 meters after presentation by Gerard Martín, the 21-year-old converted ice cold to 2-0 (60th).
But suddenly Latasa had the great chance to equalize after passing by Chuki, but Ter Stegen was on the spot again and held the shot from a short distance and thus the lead.
Barcelona also had a free kick chance of substituted Dani Olmo shortly before the end, but goalkeeper André Ferreira parried the swallowed ball. It stayed with the narrow away win from FC Barcelona and the great chance of the championship title.