Barcelona achieved one of the most defining performances of the nascent La Liga campaign on September 6 2026 by humbling Valencia 5-0 at their own Mestalla and opening up a 3-point lead over their nearest rivals.
This proved the difference between the two teams early in the season-an undefeated and overpowering Barca vs a hapless and directionless Valencia team.
Barcelona's masterful victory. Hansi Flick's squad produced a masterclass display of 5-star football at Mestalla to guarantee they are still top with a perfect record.
Barcelona arrived at Mestalla having won all three of their opening La Liga matches, scoring 12 goals and conceding just two on the way.
While Real Madrid slipped to defeat the previous night, Hansi Flick's team could now open up daylight at the summit, and they have never seemed so clinical to do so. A 5-0 demolition of Valencia extended their unbeaten streak to four from four and their seasonal tally to 17 goals.
Meanwhile, Valencia came into the match at the wrong end of the table with just one point to their name so far this season, having drawn with Celta Vigo before losing their previous two at Real Betis and Deportivo La Corua.
Carlos Corbern's team must have seen hosts the league leaders at home as the 'turning point' of their season. It was only the league champions' 2nd consecutive home defeat to a La Liga side.
The outcome was never in doubt as Barcelona made their intentions clear from the 6th minute through a fine move: Fermn Lpez threaded a superb ball through for Lamine Yamal, and the youngster made no mistake. It became Barcelona all game:
Yamal, then the Barcelona winger, added the 2nd for the Catalans (as a part of his two-goal haul on the night, one other ruled out for off-side) before Fermn Lpez, Raphinha, and Pedri chipped in to make it five for Hansi Flick's team as the last flicker of resistance for Valencia faded with no response.
The statistics told the story; Barcelona had over twice the shots of the host and enjoyed 66% possession. It is clear to see this is the form that has made Barcelona the dominant team in La Liga this season.
And of course the implications go further than three points. With Real Madrid having stumbled on Friday night, Barcelona's victory at the Mestalla put them three points clear at the top, and while it's still early, it is also a telling statement of intent in what looks likely to be another tight La Liga season.
Barcelona now boasts an offensive output of 17 goals over four games, which is certainly comparable to the best across Europe, conceding only two, and shows an ability at both ends of the pitch already.
Individualistically, Yamal is still attracting quite abnormal attention after this one—sporting director Joan Garca mentioned at a press event that he could be a potential Ballon d'Or candidate in the future, which sums up just how integral he is for Barcelona's attacking flow at the moment.
Defensively this is not ideal either for Valencia: with just one point so far this season, having lost four games, scoring one goal, and conceding five in this single game—in a league with many fine margins, perhaps Corbern's Valencia will feel under a lot of pressure going into the next international break, having lost 1 of their last 5 encounters against Barcelona, going down at home 3-1 back in May of 2026 with a tremendous comeback, and having given a reminder of that painful evening.
