Match ends, Barcelona 3, Valencia 1.
Sergio Aguero made his long-awaited Barcelona debut as Philippe Coutinho's first goal in almost a year helped secure victory against Valencia.
Aguero joined Barcelona in the summer after leaving Manchester City but had been sidelined by injury.
He came on with three minutes to go, shortly after Coutinho had made sure of Barcelona's win.
The former Liverpool forward struck from close range to add to goals from Ansu Fati and Memphis Depay.
Jose Gaya had given the visitors an early lead but Fati marked his first start in almost a year with a goal soon after, firing home from the edge of the box.
Fati was then fouled inside the box and Depay stepped up to convert the penalty.
As Valencia pushed for an equaliser Coutinho scored for the first time since a 4-0 win against Osasuna in November 2020 to secure the win.
Barcelona are on 15 points, five behind leaders Real Sociedad.
Line-ups
Barcelona
Formation 4-3-3
- 1ter Stegen
- 20RobertoSubstituted forMinguezaat 71'minutes
- 3Piqué
- 24García
- 18Alba
- 21F de Jong
- 5BusquetsBooked at 32mins
- 30GaviBooked at 20minsSubstituted forGonzález Iglesiasat 71'minutes
- 2DestSubstituted forAgüeroat 87'minutes
- 9Depay
- 10Ansu FatiSubstituted forCoutinhoat 59'minutes
Substitutes
- 6Puig Martí
- 11Demir
- 13Neto
- 14Coutinho
- 15Lenglet
- 17L de Jong
- 19Agüero
- 22Mingueza
- 23Umtiti
- 26Peña Sotorres
- 28González Iglesias
- 31Balde Martínez
Valencia
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 13Cillessen
- 20FoulquierBooked at 63minsSubstituted forMusahat 75'minutes
- 5Gabriel
- 12Diakhaby
- 14GayàBooked at 39mins
- 6GuillamónSubstituted forHélder Costaat 87'minutes
- 19DuroSubstituted forde Sousa Mendonçaat 59'minutes
- 10Soler
- 18Wass
- 7Gonçalo GuedesSubstituted forCheryshevat 75'minutes
- 9GómezBooked at 82minsSubstituted forVallejo Galvánat 86'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Doménech
- 4Musah
- 8Racic
- 11Hélder Costa
- 17Cheryshev
- 21Vallejo Galván
- 22de Sousa Mendonça
- 23Remeseiro Salgueiro
- 28Mamardashvili
- 32Vázquez
- 37Mosquera
- Referee:
- Jesús Gil Manzano
- Attendance:
- 47,317
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home60%
- Away40%
- Shots
- Home12
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away3
- Corners
- Home9
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home16
- Away13
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Barcelona 3, Valencia 1.
Post update
Attempt missed. Jordi Alba (Barcelona) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Gabriel Paulista.
Post update
Corner, Valencia. Conceded by Nicolás González Iglesias.
Post update
Attempt missed. Philippe Coutinho (Barcelona) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box misses to the right. Assisted by Memphis Depay.
Substitution
Substitution, Barcelona. Sergio Agüero replaces Sergiño Dest.
Substitution
Substitution, Valencia. Hélder Costa replaces Hugo Guillamón.
Substitution
Substitution, Valencia. Manu Vallejo replaces Maximiliano Gómez.
Goal!
Goal! Barcelona 3, Valencia 1. Philippe Coutinho (Barcelona) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Sergiño Dest.
Post update
Attempt missed. Maximiliano Gómez (Valencia) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right from a direct free kick.
Post update
Foul by Sergio Busquets (Barcelona).
Post update
Marcos André (Valencia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Booking
Maximiliano Gómez (Valencia) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Maximiliano Gómez (Valencia).
Post update
Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Mouctar Diakhaby.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Philippe Coutinho (Barcelona) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jordi Alba.
Post update
Foul by Gerard Piqué (Barcelona).
Post update
Gabriel Paulista (Valencia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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