Robert Lewandowski scored late in the first half and early in the second half to give Barcelona a winning start in coach Hansi Flick’s Spanish league debut.
Lewandowski’s goals helped Barcelona secure a 2-1 victory at Valencia in their opening league match on Saturday.
This was Flick’s first official game as coach after taking over from the former club star Xavi Hernández at the end of last season.
“It was very important to debut with a victory,” Flick said. “We made some mistakes in the first half but we improved in the second.”
Valencia took the lead with a header by Hugo Duro in the 44th minute, but Barcelona came back with Lewandowski’s goals in first-half stoppage time and four minutes into the second half.
“The goal at the end of the first half was very important,” Flick said.
Duro’s goal was initially ruled out for offside, but video review confirmed it should count.
Lewandowski’s first goal was set up by teenager Lamine Yamal, whose father was stabbed on Wednesday after an argument near Barcelona. Mounir Nasraoui had to be hospitalized but his injuries were not life-threatening.
The 35-year-old Lewandowski gave Barcelona the lead by converting a penalty kick in the 49th minute after forward Raphinha was fouled in the area.
“My objective is to score goals. It’s important to start the season like this to give us more confidence,” Lewandowski said.
Flick also used several players from Barcelona’s famous La Masia youth academy, including Gerard Martín and 17-year-old Marc Bernal, both of whom made their first-team debut.
