No rest for the best: Barca forced to dig deep for comeback at Valladolid
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Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 04.05.25. | 00:01
This could have been one of the biggest upsets in La Liga's history. Unfortunately for Real Madrid, the Catalans got away with it after all (1-2)
Of all the clubs in Spain and all the possible slip-ups on the way, Barcelona were on the brink of collapsing at - Valladolid!? Yes, the worst La Liga side, which said its farewell to the Spanish top division long ago and will definitely finish this deplorable season at the very bottom.
Tonight's host were 60 points behind the league leaders, Barca, ahead of the kick-off and yet - they were less than 40 minutes away from one of the biggest upsets in La Liga's history.
Barcelona 𝗦𝗨𝗥𝗩𝗜𝗩𝗘 an early scare to go 𝙎𝙀𝙑𝙀𝙉 points clear of Real Madrid 🫡 pic.twitter.com/dltRrT05gB
— 433 (@433) May 3, 2025
That already relegated Valladolid were 1-0 up at home against the Blaugrana at the half-time interval, which caused Hansi Flick's almost instant reaction during the break and even a little bit earlier. All of a sudden, Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Frenkie de Jong were on the pitch, Dani Olmo, too, and this five-star Barca pulled off an expected comeback for a 2-1 away win.
Just three days before their crucial Champions League clash at Inter, Flick was forced to use his key players. If it weren't for their superstars, the table-toppers could have easily lost crucial points in their title quest. And next week, we'll be enjoying El Clasico, so it would be so difficult to stay confident and calm with only a point above Real Madrid.
WHERE WOULD BARÇA BE WITHOUT YAMAL AND RAPHINHA???? SO, SO IMPORTANT. pic.twitter.com/eB9hccfWLc
— AX ⚡ (@barcaaxh) May 3, 2025
That's why the second-half comeback on the wings of Raphinha, who levelled the score, and Fermin Lopez, whose lovely finish made it 1-2, means so much for the Blaugrana.
For at least a few hours, they will be seven points clear of Los Blancos and now the pressure is definitely on their side as the victory against Celta is obligatory for Carlo Ancelotti's lot.
LA LIGA - MATCHDAY 34
Friday
Rayo Vallecano - Getafe 1-0 (1-0)
/Lejeune 7/
Saturday
Alaves - Atl. Madrid 0-0
Villarreal - Osasuna 4-2 (3-0)
/Perez 2,39, Barry 33, Pepe 71 - Garcia 66, Oroz 81/
Las Palmas - Valencia 2-3 (1-1)
/Ramirez 45+2 pen, McBurnie 83 - Duro 22,58, Suarez 75 og/
Valladolid - Barcelona 1-2 (1-0)
/Sanchez 6 - Raphinha 54, Lopez 60/
Sunday
15.00: (1.38) Real Madrid (5.00) Celta (8.00)
17.15: (1.85) Sevilla (3.30) Leganes (5.35)
19.30: (3.20) Espanyol (3.30) Betis (2.45)
22.00: (2.55) Sociedad (3.20) Ath.Bilbao (3.15)
Monday
22.00: (2.10) Girona (3.35) Mallorca (4.00)
***odds are subject to change***
