Valencia ended the season with an impressive 3-1 win over Barcelona, ending a run of 11 winless LaLiga H2Hs, but not enough to secure European football for next season.
2025/2026 La Liga
3-1
Match Report
Despite only guaranteeing their top-flight place six days ago, Los Che remarkably hosted the champions knowing that a win could be enough to secure UEFA Conference League football for next season. With that in mind, a literally bouncing Mestalla crowd saw their side begin brightly after creating several clear-cup chances in the opening 20 minutes. Diego López blazed a close-range attempt over the bar, before Gavi blocked Luis Rioja's effort. López then turned provider for Hugo Duro, but Valencia’s number nine agonisingly headed over the bar. Carlos Corberán’s men were clearly sensing the opportunity to sneak into a European place, as Wojciech Szczęsny was called into action to keep out Filip Ugrinić's low driven effort. Barça were comparatively much slower out of the traps, but could have broken the deadlock themselves when Alejandro Balde hit the side-netting after a neat one-two with Dani Olmo.
Robert Lewandowski then met Marcus Rashford’s corner at the near post, producing a header that cannoned off the post at the end of an absorbing first half. That late chance led to a change in momentum at the start of the second half, and after the impressive López was withdrawn injured, Barça broke the deadlock courtesy of a goal from Lewandowski on his final appearance for the club. Pepelu’s headed clearance went straight into the path of Ferran Torres, whose cross-shot was turned up by the Polish frontman at the far post.
However, Corberán’s side restored parity just five minutes later when Javi Guerra weaved his way inside Barcelona’s defence and placed a left-footed shot past Szczęsny to score a third goal in his last two appearances. Rioja then turned the match completely on its head to spark pandemonium inside Mestalla, as the winger was allowed to cut inside on his left foot and drilled an accurate strike beyond Szczęsny at the end of a blistering move.
It looked like a third Valencia goal was on the cards when Marc Bernal was penalised for a challenge on Jesús Vázquez. Referee Adrián Cordero Vega originally pointed to the spot, but VAR determined the offence had taken place outside the area. As the clock ticked down, Andreas Christensen had an opportunity to restore parity with his outstretched right leg, only to be denied by Stole Dimitrievski.
The hosts would ultimately find a third deep into stoppage time when Guido Rodríguez drilled a low right-footed shot beneath Szczęsny’s outstretched hand to seal all three points in style. The result ensured Los Che went unbeaten in four successive top-flight games for the first time since last December and meant they finished in a very respectable ninth place. Meanwhile, Hansi Flick’s side ended their campaign with a sixth league defeat of an otherwise brilliant campaign which sees them finish eight points clear of Real Madrid at the top of the table.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
6' Diego Lopez is caught offside after the linesman raises his flag
11' Luis Rioja arrives to a rebound and unleashes a quick strike, but Gavi makes a goal-line clearance
18' Hugo Duro sends his close-range header a whisker over the crossbar
21' Balde controls a neat clever pass inside the box, but his effort crashes against the left post
28' Diego Lopez receives a sweet pass inside the box, but his effort on goal is blocked by the defender
29' Ugrinic gets to the rebound and unleashes a long-range shot, but Szczesny makes a decent save
36' Gerard Martin is asking for some medical attention with his painful gestures
45' Lewandowski rises high to meet the resultant corner kick but only hits his header onto the left post
52' Diego Lopez is unable to continue due to injury, Largie Ramazani comes on
55' Unai Nunez attacks the corner in the centre of the box, but his header goes high over the bar
61' GOAL! Ferran takes aim and his effort deflects off Lewy to beat the keeper! Valencia 0-1 Barcelona
66' GOAL! Javi Guerra finds himself one-on-one with the keeper and scores! Valencia 1-1 Barcelona
67' Xavi Espart evades the challenge and decides to shoot, but the ball balloons high over the bar
71' GOAL! Luis Rioja hits the rebound into the bottom right corner! Valencia 2-1 Barcelona
79' Bernal commits a foul, Valencia are awarded a free kick on the edge of the box after VAR review
90'+7' GOAL! Valencia 3-1 Barcelona
Line-ups
Valencia XI: Stole Dimitrievski, Rioja, G. Rodriguez, Núñez, Pepelu, Filip Ugrinic, Hugo Duro, Jesús Vázquez, César Tárrega, Diego López, Javier Guerra
Subs: Santamaria, Umar, Arnaut Danjuma, Dani Raba, Almeida, Correia, Ramazani, Julen Agirrezabala, Rubén Iranzo, David Otorbi, Lucas Núñez, Rúben Muñoz de Morales Portellano
Barcelona XI: Szczesny, Lewandowski, Olmo, Rashford, Ferran Torres, Araujo, Eric Garcia, Balde, Gavi, Gerard Martín, Bernal
Subs: Cancelo, Christensen, De Jong, Pedri, Joan García, Casado, Roony Bardghji, Cubarsi, Diego Kochen, Álvaro Cortés, Xavi Espart, Tommy Marqués