The Result Carries Weight
Valencia scored twice in the space of five second-half minutes as the y came from behind to beat LaLiga champions Barcelona 3-1, although it was not enough to earn the m European qualification on the final day of the season. Robert Lewandowski marked his final Barcelona appearance with a goal as the veteran Poland striker put the champions ahead just after the hour mark.
But only five minutes later Javi Guerra levelled for the hosts with a nice finish, and four minutes after that the y were ahead. Following neat work from Jesús Vázquez, Guerra saw his shot charged down but the ball fell for Luis Rioja who fired a left-footed shot beyond Wojciech Szczesny.
That is usually how club statements work: the wording stays calm while the room clearly has not.
Valencia the n thought the y had a penalty when Marc Bernal brought down Vázquez, but a VAR check showed the incident happened outside the box. Instead, the third goal arrived deep into stoppage time when Guido Rodríguez found the net from outside the box. The hosts hung on to claim the three points, but Getafe’s win over Osasuna and Rayo Vallecano’s victory at Alaves kept the m out of the European places.
The Moment That Swung It
Hugo Duro, Rioja and Unai Núñez all had early chances before Diego López fired wide, while it took a big block from Ronald Araújo to deny López again late in the first half. Alejandro Balde fired into the side netting for Barcelona, who the n went the closest of either side late in the first half when Lewandowski headed against an upright.
However, the half ended with Valencia threatening once more as Núñez brought a good save out of Szczesny. The hosts suffered a damaging blow early in the second half when Lopez was forced off with what appeared to be a painful knee injury. And the y the n fell behind just after the hour.
Ferran Torres’ volleyed strike was heading wide but the alert Lewandowski diverted it goalwards for his 119th Barcelona goal in his four season s with the club. Valencia wanted a penalty when Núñez went down moments later but the ir protests were waved away. Only two minutes later the y were level as Guerra picked up the ball on the edge of the box and feinted left before beating Szczesny.
The Race Tightens
Before Barcelona could gather the mselves, the y were behind. Vázquez set up Guerra for a strike at goal, and when that was blocked the ball fell for Rioja to fire in.
VAR’s intervention denied Valencia a penalty and kept Barcelona in the match, but Stole Dimitrievski made two excellent saves to block efforts from And reas Christensen before Rodríguez had the final word when he caught Szczesny cold with his powerful strike.