Barcelona beats Valladolid before important week

FC Barcelona narrowly avoided a costly slip-up in La Liga on Saturday, coming from behind to defeat already-relegated Real Valladolid 2-1. Despite starting with a heavily rotated squad, Hansi Flick had to call on his star players Lamine Yamal, Frenkie de Jong, and Raphinha to secure the three points.

B-team struggles early

With one eye firmly on Tuesday’s Champions League semifinal clash against Inter in San Siro, Flick made nine changes to his starting lineup compared to the 3-3 draw against Inter midweek. Only Gerard Martín and Pedri retained their spots as Barcelona fielded what was effectively a B-team. That gamble backfired quickly. In the fifth minute, Valladolid took the lead when Iván Sánchez’s shot deflected off defender Ronald Araújo, wrong-footing goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, who made his first appearance since recovering from a knee injury. The ball crept into the far corner, giving the hosts a surprise 1-0 advantage.

Big guns step in

Flick reacted before halftime, introducing the energetic Lamine Yamal in the 37th minute for debutant Dani Rodríguez. After the break, Frenkie de Jong and Raphinha also came on, adding much-needed quality and composure to Barcelona’s play. The impact was immediate. In the 54th minute, Raphinha equalized with his 31st goal of the season, silencing the protesting Valladolid fans who spent the night voicing their frustrations against club president Ronaldo Nazário. Just six minutes later, Fermín López put Barcelona ahead, scoring the club’s remarkable 160th goal across all competitions this season.

Eyes on massive week ahead

Barcelona held on comfortably for the remainder of the match, securing their 79th point from 34 games. Real Madrid, sitting seven points behind, will have a chance to close the gap when they face Celta de Vigo on Sunday. Next Sunday promises high drama when Barça and Madrid meet again in La Liga, just two weeks after their fiery Copa del Rey final in Sevilla. Already winners of the Supercopa de España and Copa del Rey this season, Barcelona now enters a pivotal period. The Champions League semifinal against Inter on Tuesday could define their European ambitions, while another Clásico victory would further cement their domestic dominance. Flick’s decision to rest key players almost backfired, but with the stars stepping up when needed, Barcelona remains on course for a memorable May.