Lewandowski scores twice as Barca come from behind to beat Valencia in Flick’s debut game

Robert Lewandowski’s brace ensured Barcelona came from behind at Valencia to beat Los Che 2-1 to open their Liga 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 XI.

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.

A goalscorer will paper over a lot of cracks for a manager. Lewandowski did just that, as Barcelona’s off-field chaos meant they started five players under 21, the Polish striker’s finishing ensured they secured all three points.

Even on a down year last season, where he finished a goal away from hitting 20 league goals for the ninth year in succession, his precision finishing – especially from spot kicks – secured a number of points.

Flick is well aware of the qualities Lewandowski brings, having coached him at Bayern Munich, and knows that while Daniel Olmo and, possibly, Nico Williams will add a great deal to his side, eventually, much will depend on whether his 35-year-old No. 1 can get back to his usual goal-a-game form. Judging by this game, he could well do.

There was no obviously dominant player with a team effort from Barcelona getting them over the line. However, even when Barcelona were quiet in the first half, Raphinia remained a threat. He created a number of chances for others, was very close to scoring with a blistering strike in the first half and crucially won the penalty which secured them victory.

Valencia: Mamardashvili 7; Correia 7, Mosquera 7, Gasiorowski 6, Vazquez 7; Pepelu 7, Javi Guerra 6, Diego Lopez 7; Andre Almeida 6, Rafa Mir 6, Hugo Duro 6.

Subs: Gomez 6, Doulquier 6, Otorbi 6, Tejon 6, Guillamon 6.

Barcelona: Ter Stegen 7; Kounde 6, Cubarsi 6, Inigo Martinez 6, Balde 7; Casado 7, Bernal 6; Raphinha 7*, Yamal 7, Ferran Torres 6; Lewandowski 7.

Subs: Martin 6, Christensen 6, Pedri 7, Garcia 6, Victor 7.

20′ GREAT STOP FROM MARMARDASHVILI! Raphinia cut in from the right and fired in an effort from nearly 30 yards out which was heading for the top corner but the Georgian stopper pushed the effort to safety at full-stretch.

44′GOAL! VALENCIA (DURO) 1-0 BARCELONA Vazquez drove into Barcelona territory before playing wide to Lopez whose cross was headed back over and across ter Stegen from the back post by Duro. The linesman’s flag went up but the replays showed he was onside.

45+8′GOAL! VALENCIA 1-1 BARCELONA (LEWANDOWSKI) Balde crosses to the back post where Yamal turns the ball back along the six-yard box and Lewandowski taps home.

47′PENALTY FOR BARCELONA! A clumsy challenge from Mosquera who did not see Raphinia nip in front of him, take the ball and then the brunt of the attempted clearance.

49′GOAL! BARCELONA (LEWANDOWSKI) 2-1 VALENCIA The Polish striker nets his second goal of the game, placing the ball into Marmardashvili’s top left hand corner.

56′VALENCIA FURIOUS CUBARSI DOESN’T GET SECOND YELLOW He pulled back Duro who along with the fans and his manager, who receives a card himself, are angry the Barca man is still on the pitch.

57′TORRES LOOKED OFFSIDE… But he was allowed to run through and shoot and was denied by a good low stop from Marmardashvili.

70′LEWANDOWSKI NOT FAR FROM A HAT TRICK! He spun and turned in the box after a square ball from Casado but Mosquera just got a touch to his shot and it squirmed wide.