Two goals from Robert Lewandowski either side of half-time brought Barcelona back from 1-0 down to beat Valencia at Mestalla in Hansi Flick’s first game in charge.
The home team had taken the lead through a towering Hugo Duro header but Lewandowski first finished off a cross from Lamine Yamal, and then netted a penalty to give his team the win in their opening La Liga match of the season.
Robert Lewandowski’s brace ensured Barcelona came from behind at Valencia to beat Los Che 2-1 to open their campaign with three points.
In his first game in charge, with salary cap issues preventing new signing Dani Olmo, among others, from playing, Hansi Flick started three 17-year-olds with Marc Bernal and Pau Cubarsi joining Lamine Yamal in the eleven.
Unsurprisingly, Valencia were the stronger team for most of the first half and were value for their lead from Hugo Duro’s smart header.
Deep in injury time of the first half, Yamal turned back Alejandro Balde’s cross to present Lewandowski with the chance to equalise and then he added a second from the spot after Raphinha was brought down by Cristhian Mosquera.
As the game went on, Barcelona looked more comfortable and their new German coach will be delighted to get off the mark with victory in challenging circumstances.
