Gazeta Lodz - Yamal hits double as 'nearly perfect' Barca thrash Valencia

The reigning champions moved three points clear at the top of La Liga, after Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid lost 1-0 at Real Betis on Friday.

Fermin Lopez, Raphinha and Pedri were also on target for Hansi Flick's swaggering visitors on a hot afternoon on Spain's east coast.

Yamal did not take part in the team training session on Saturday after a knock but showed no signs of it during a dazzling display against Carlos Corberan's Los Che.

Barcelona, the only team in the top flight to win their first four games, took control from the start to the upset of Valencia's fans at a persistently bad-tempered Mestalla stadium.

"We played a fantastic game, it was nearly perfect, we controlled, we were dominant and this is what I want from the team," said Flick.

"We stay calm and then if it's possible to score we try to do it -- it was a fantastic game for us.

"Nothing is perfect, you always can improve. If it's perfect then you can stop working."

Yamal opened the scoring with a clever lofted finish in the sixth minute after Lopez dinked a superb ball over the top for the teenage star.

The 19-year-old slammed home at the near post for what he thought was Barca's second goal but the goal was disallowed for a tight offside after a VAR review.

Lopez netted the second with a crisp finish in the 22nd minute after former Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon teed him up.

Barcelona suffered a blow when Eric Garcia had to go off hurt midway through the first half after a collision with team-mate Rodri's shoulder, on the midfielder's first start since arriving this summer from Manchester City.

Yamal fired narrowly wide and Lopez struck the post as Flick's side continued to dominate. Barca goalkeeper Joan Garcia made a smart save to thwart Arnaut Danjuma at his near post before the break.

Raphinha, starting again as the team's centre-forward, tapped home his sixth goal of the season from close range after Lopez fed him.

Valencia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski saved from Rodri before Pedri netted Barcelona's fourth after an exchange of passes with Dani Olmo.

New arrival Gabriel Jesus came on for his Barca debut as a substitute in the final 10 minutes and sent a low effort just wide.

Yamal stayed onside to collect another Olmo pass and put away Barca's fifth and conclude a profitable afternoon for both the World Cup winner and the Catalan giants.

"We have a very young team, with the right transfers we made, but it's the beginning of the season, it's not the end," added Flick, telling his team not to get too excited yet about their strong start.

"We have to go a long, long way."

R.Zakrzewski--GL