- Barcelona defeated Real Valladolid 2-1 in La Liga.
- Raphinha and Fermin Lopez scored second-half goals.
- Barca rotated heavily ahead of the Champions League semi-final.
- The win extended their lead over Real Madrid to seven points.
Barcelona Overcomes Early Deficit
Barcelona strengthened their position at the top of La Liga by defeating already-relegated Real Valladolid 2-1 on Saturday. Despite prioritizing their upcoming Champions League semi-final against Inter Milan, Barca managed to come from behind after conceding an early deflected goal by Ivan Sanchez.
Second-Half Comeback Secures Victory
With multiple key players rested, Barcelona relied on second-half efforts. Substitute Raphinha scored his 16th league goal, equalizing after Valladolid goalkeeper Andre Ferreira parried a cross. Just minutes later, Gerard Martin set up Fermin Lopez, who netted the decisive goal, completing the turnaround.
Squad Rotation Pays Off
Coach Hansi Flick made nine changes from the Champions League draw with Inter, including bringing back Marc-Andre ter Stegen after a long injury. Although Ter Stegen conceded early, his overall performance boosted the squad. Flick expressed satisfaction, noting that managing player minutes while securing three points was a positive result ahead of their critical fixtures.