Valladolid 1-2 FC Barcelona: Crucial comeback

With nine changes to the side that drew 3-3 with Inter on Wednesday, Barça survived a scare at the ground of the bottom-ranked team in La Liga and are coming home from Valladolid with three crucial points that inch them a little bit closer to the domestic championship.

The home side scored early and it wasn’t until the second half that the blaugrana machine really started working with goals in quick succession from Raphinha and Fermin Lopez turning things around to put seven points between themselves and Real Madrid, who host Celta tomorrow and come to the Estadi Olimpic next weekend.

Many changes

There was a very different look to the Barça line-up, starting in goal with Marc ter Stegen making a welcome comeback after an absence of 223 days.

And the German clearly hasn’t lost any of his brilliance in his time off the pitch, making a number of key contributions to today’s win.

And with Tuesday’s UCL return leg in Milan in mind, coach Hansi Flick opted to start without several of his big names, including Raphinha, Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí, with Dani Rodriguez of Barça Atlétic making his debut on the right of a threesome alongside Ansu Fati and Fermin Lopez, with Pau Victor as the out-and-out striker.

Sadly for Rodriguez, his debut only lasted 34 minutes. He was forced to retire with a dislocated shoulder, with Lamine coming on in his stead.

Early setback

And Lamine was needed. Unexpectedly, Barça were trailing. Real Valladolid are already relegated, but they were keen to leave La Liga with a bang, and took the lead after just six minutes.

It looked like more of a cross than a shot from Iván Sánchez, but it took a slight deflection off Ronald Araujo and looped over Ter Stegen’s head and into the net.

A top save from Ter Stegen prevented the home side from extending their lead before Barça finally started to assert their presence, and for the rest of the first half André Ferreira was very much the busier of the two goalkeepers.

Turnaround

Barça were lacking their usual shape and rhythm. Raphinha came on for the second time and within minutes had already made an impact, pouncing on a rebound and firing Barça right back into the game.

This was the Barça we know and love. The spark that was lacking in the first half was back in full force, and six minutes later a lovely team move ended with Fermin Lopez, assisted by MVP Gerard Martin, unmarked in the middle of the area and able to drive Barça into the lead.

Three more points

Having got themselves out of a mess, Barça were on a roll and wanted more. Hector Fort hit the post, a Lamine effort was cleared off the line, Dani Olmo almost curled in a lovely free kick…

The three points may have looked done and dusted, but the one-goal cushion wasn’t a comfortable one, and despite being heavily outplayed, Valladolid still felt they could get something out of the game and caused the Barça defence some moments of alarm on the counter attack.

A crucial late tackle from Araujo and some solid work from Ter Stegen kept the late trouble away, and Barça, for an incredible eighth time this season, had come from behind to claim all three points.