Valladolid 1-2 Barcelona: Flick's team, one step closer to the 24/25 La Liga title!

FC Barcelona is just one victory in next week's Clásico against Real Madrid away from lifting their 28th LaLiga title. On Saturday, the Azulgrana team struggled more than expected to defeat Valladolid at the José Zorrilla (1-2).

As expected, Hansi Flick made massive rotations in his XI. Thinking about the return leg of the Champions League semi-finals against Inter Milan, Ter Stegen and Andreas Christensen returned seven and eight months later, respectively.

Also, in attack, the main novelties were Pau Víctor and the debutant Dani Rodríguez. The 19-year-old forward accompanied Ansu Fati as a right winger. And, of the starters on Wednesday against Inter, only Pedri González and Gerard Martín repeated.

With nothing more than honor at stake, after their mathematical relegation and a disastrous second round (1 draw and 13 defeats), Valladolid found an early goal at home, more by luck than by their own merit.

Iván Sánchez surprised Barça in the 5th minute

After two consecutive corners in favor, Iván Sánchez, with a lot of luck, opened the scoring when only the fifth minute of the match had passed. The '10' surprised Ter Stegen with a shot that, after deflecting off Ronald Araujo, took a strange effect that the '1' could not read.

The German jumped to try to reach it, but the ball entered the goal without opposition. After the 1-0, Alejandro Muñiz Ruiz cautioned Araujo and Mamadou Sylla. The locals were close to the second in the 10th minute, but Raúl Moro could not give power to his shot.

Pau Víctor had the first clear chance for Barça against Valladolid

The 'culés' responded with a good header from Pau Víctor that the goalkeeper Ferreira sent to the corner with a great save. The '1' of the 'pucelanos' reappeared around the half-hour mark, with a great stretch to clear a left-footed shot from Ansu Fati entering the area from his left.

As the minutes passed, Barça took control of the match and Valladolid lost power in the counterattacks. However, Hansi Flick was forced to make a change before the break due to the injury of Dani Rodríguez.

Lamine Yamal, without rest against Valladolid

The forward from the youth team had a clash with Aznou in which he took the worst part. After receiving medical assistance on his right arm, he finally could not continue and there was no other option. Lamine Yamal entered in the 37th minute to take charge of the right side of the attack.

The player from Mataró had his first two opportunities before the break, but in both he had to define with his right foot. He also served a very dangerous cross from the side, but Candela avoided Víctor's shot entering the small area.

After 45 minutes in which Barcelona had 80% possession, Valladolid went to the break with a minimal advantage. The 'culés' lacked clarity when stepping into the rival area, although Ferreira's interventions were also key for the 'pucelanos' to hold the zero.

⚽Statistics of the first half: Valladolid 1-0 Barça

1. Shots: 2-15
2. Shots on goal: 2-3
3. Possession: 20%-80%
4. Fouls: 3-4
5. Cautions 2-1
6. Offsides: 1-1
7. Corners: 2-7

Raphinha and De Jong, variants at halftime

Ansu Fati, during the Valladolid-Barça

After the break, Flick put Frenkie de Jong and Raphinha in for Pedri and Ansu, seeking greater fluidity in the Azulgrana attack. The change of the Canary Islander, obviously, was to not wear him out more before the Champions League rematch against Inter.

For Fati, another lost opportunity, one of the last of the season. The Brazilian entered very active, with a deflected header after a few seconds on the field.

With Barça totally overturned on the rival field, the tie seemed only a matter of time, although the 'culés' were still finding it difficult to make the last touch inside the area.

Raphinha and Fermín, always opportune, consummated the 'culé' comeback

Raphinha and Fermín, celebrating one of Barça's goals in Valladolid

In the 54th minute, a cross from Lamine from the right was key for the Azulgrana team to reach the tie. The goalkeeper came out with his fists to avoid Araujo's header, but his clearance fell to Raphinha.

The '11', with coldness, settled to define with his right foot into an empty goal, taking advantage of the only mistake of the 'pucelano' goalkeeper until that moment. After the 1-1, Valladolid offered little resistance, as expected, against an infinitely superior Barça.

In the 60th minute, a good collective action by the Catalans ended in a low cross from Gerard Martín from the left. The 'pucelana' defense retreated as a block, accompanying Pau Víctor, while Fermín was left loose in the middle of the area.

The player from Huelva, with time and space, took out a low shot, unstoppable for Ferreira, to seal the comeback. In a burst of six minutes, Barça turned around a match that became more complicated than expected in the first half.

Ter Stegen appeared to bring the LaLiga title closer to Barça

Flick tweaked the attack with the entry of Dani Olmo for Pau Víctor and the 'culés' came close to 1-3 with a shot from Héctor Fort to the post after a masterful heel assist from Lamine. However, the locals reacted with chances repelled by Ter Stegen.

Raúl Moro, with a header, and Juanmi Latasa, with a left-footed shot, tested the reflexes of the German, in the middle of a stretch of Azulgrana relaxation. Gavi asked for the change due to wear, leaving his place in the change to Eric García in the 78th minute.

Just after the last 'culé' change, Candela saved a goal from Yamal on the line, after an assist from Gerard Martín from the left. Olmo, from a free kick, was also close to scoring near the end.

Beyond the tightness of the result, Barça did their homework, perhaps with more wear than expected for several of their starters. Now, after obtaining the Copa del Rey, the 'culés' are three victories away from reaching the treble.

The first step, on Tuesday against Inter to advance to the Champions League final. Then, on Sunday, it's time to receive Real Madrid to settle LaLiga. Thus, everything would be served to go for the 'orejona' on May 31 in Munich.

⚽Final statistics of the match: Valladolid 1-2 Barça

1. Shots: 5-23
2. Shots on goal: 4-7
3. Possession: 20%-80%
4. Fouls: 12-15
5. Cautions 3-2
6. Offsides: 3-1
7. Corners: 4-8

Match data sheet: Valladolid 1-2 FC Barcelona

• Valladolid, 1: Ferreira; Anuar (Ndiaye, min. 62), Candela, Cömert, Cenk, Aznou; Juric (Mario Martín, min. 85), Iván Sánchez (Grillitsch, min. 72), Amallah (Chuki, min. 72), Raúl Moro; Mamadou Sylla (Juanmi Latasa, min. 62).
• FC Barcelona, 2: Ter Stegen; Héctor Fort, Araujo, Christensen, Gerard Martín; Gavi (Erc García, min. 78), Pedri (De Jong, min. 46); Ansu Fati (Raphinha, min. 46), Fermín López, Dani Rodríguez (min. 37, Lamine Yamal); Pau Víctor (Dani Olmo, min. 61).
• Goals: 1-0, Iván Sánchez (min. 6); 1-1, Raphinha (min. 54); 1-2, Fermín López (min. 60)
• Referee: Alejandro Muñiz Ruiz. Cautioned Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen for Barça. In Valladolid, he cautioned Mamadou Sylla, Anuar Tuhami and Mario Martín.
• Stadium: José Zorrilla (Valladolid).
• Incidents: match corresponding to matchday 34 of LaLiga EA Sports 2024-25.