Barcelona Stages Thrilling Comeback at Valladolid to Edge Closer to La Liga Glory

Valladolid, Spain: Barcelona surged another step closer to the La Liga title with a dramatic 2-1 comeback win at relegated Valladolid, setting the stage perfectly for their Champions League decider against Inter Milan.

Caught off guard early on, Barça found themselves trailing but stormed back in the second half with goals from Raphinha and Fermin Lopez, stretching their lead over Real Madrid to seven points. With only four matches remaining—including a blockbuster El Clasico—Barcelona now stands on the brink of domestic triumph.

Valladolid struck first, stunning the visitors in the 9th minute when Ivan Sanchez’s deflected strike off Ronald Araujo looped past returning goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen. Making his first start since September after a knee injury, Ter Stegen was left helpless as the ball bounced awkwardly into the net. The home crowd, already in protest mode against club owner Ronaldo Nazário, erupted with rare joy.

Barça’s struggles deepened when debutant Daniel Rodriguez was forced off with an arm injury just past the half-hour mark. His replacement, 17-year-old Lamine Yamal, quickly ignited the attack with his pace and creativity. Yamal dazzled with a twirling dribble past two defenders and nearly scored, only to be denied on the goal line by Antonio Candela.

Hansi Flick made a bold decision at halftime, bringing on Raphinha as part of his pre-planned squad rotation ahead of the Champions League semifinal in Milan. The Brazilian winger made an immediate impact, smashing home a loose ball in the 54th minute after Valladolid’s keeper failed to deal with Yamal’s cross.

Just six minutes later, Fermin Lopez fired a precise, low strike into the corner to complete the turnaround—adding yet another vital goal to his impressive season. Barcelona’s bench erupted, and the momentum swung fully in their favour.

Flick had rested key players, including Pau Cubarsí and Iñigo Martínez, and limited Pedri to only the first half before replacing him with Frenkie de Jong. His gamble paid off as Barcelona kept control and confidence ahead of their critical European showdown.

Marc-André ter Stegen expressed his joy at returning to action: “I was really eager to play and enjoy being on the field. And there is no better way to return than with a win. We are keeping up the momentum ahead of some spectacular games.”

Despite the win, concerns lingered late in the match when midfielder Gavi requested to come off. It was unclear whether it was due to cramps or a potential injury. The club is already managing the absence of Robert Lewandowski, Jules Koundé, and Alejandro Balde.

Around the league, Atletico Madrid played out a goalless draw with Alaves, slipping further behind Real Madrid. Villarreal’s 4-2 victory over Osasuna, thanks to a double from Ayoze Pérez, tightened their grip on fifth place. Valencia edged Las Palmas 3-2, pushing the Canary Islands club deeper into the relegation zone.

As Barcelona gears up for a titanic clash in Milan after a thrilling 3-3 first leg, their comeback win in Valladolid fuels the belief that the treble is within reach.