Author: Vishwajit Sawant
Valencia – Atlético de Madrid – 3:0
In a stunning turnaround, Valencia handed Atlético Madrid their first La Liga defeat of the season with an imposing 3-0 home win. The win marked a triumphant return to form for Valencia, who had suffered two consecutive defeats before that game.
Hugo Duro was Valencia’s hero, securing the early lead with a precise shot from a tight angle in the fifth minute. Duro continued to torment Atlético’s defense, scoring his second goal of the match in the 34th minute after a quick counter-attack, doubling Valencia’s lead.
Javi Guerra put the icing on the cake for Valencia in the 54th minute with a brilliant shot from the edge of the box, extending the lead to 3-0 and sparking celebrations from the fans at the Mestalla stadium.
This unexpected victory was Valencia’s first over Atlético de Madrid since 2014 and moved them up to fifth place in the La Liga standings with nine points. Meanwhile, Diego Simeone’s Atlético side, currently in seventh place with seven points, will need to regroup quickly to face Lazio in their Champions League opener before a crucial league derby against Real Madrid on September 24. Atlético goalkeeper Jan Oblak acknowledged the need to improve, stressing the importance of intensity and attitude in the coming games.
Barcelona – Real Betis – 5:0
In a sensational La Liga clash, Barcelona produced a breathtaking performance to secure a resounding 5-0 victory over Real Betis at the Estadio Olimpico de Montjuïc. The Blaugrana gave a masterclass in attacking soccer, maintaining their unbeaten start to the season and winning their fourth consecutive league match.
Barcelona’s highlights included a stunning home debut from João Félix, who scored an incredible goal and provided a crucial assist. Félix opened the scoring with a precise finish after a cross from Oriol Romeu and, minutes later, his cleverness provided the basis for Robert Lewandowski to double the lead.
While Betis threatened at the end of the first half, goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen made a first-time save to keep Barcelona ahead. In the second half, Ferran Torres scored a sensational free-kick, followed by Raphinha, who added another with a splendid shot.
To complete the rout, João Cancelo scored his first goal for Barcelona with an impressive individual effort. This remarkable performance from Xavi Hernández’s side has fans excited about what the future holds for the season. Barcelona’s attacking brilliance and dominant victory underline their potential for a promising campaign.