Barcelona once again showcased their fighting spirit with a come-from-behind victory over Real Valladolid, marking the fourth time in five matches that the Catalan side have had to claw their way back from a deficit—Mallorca being the only exception.
The visitors were stunned early when Valladolid found the net inside six minutes. With several regulars rested due to fatigue, manager Hansi Flick fielded a heavily rotated line-up, including a debut for academy prospect Dani Rodríguez. Unfortunately, the youngster’s introduction to senior football was short-lived, forced off with an injury before half-time and replaced by the lively Lamine Yamal.
The real shift came after the break, when Flick brought on Raphinha. The Brazilian winger made an immediate impact, smashing in the equalizer after Valladolid failed to clear a Yamal cross. Raphinha controlled the rebound with aplomb before drilling it into the bottom corner—his 31st goal of a stellar campaign that also includes 22 assists. In LaLiga alone, he has netted 17 times in 32 appearances.
Just after the hour mark, the comeback was complete. This time, it was Fermín López who delivered the decisive blow, finishing smartly from a Gerard Martín cross. The 21-year-old’s fourth league goal of the season added to his growing influence, with six goals and nine assists now to his name across 41 appearances in all competitions.
With only a handful of matches remaining, Barça’s growing habit of turning games around has become a defining feature of their title push. Flick’s men are grinding out results even when on the ropes—an encouraging sign as the season approaches its climax.