The responsibility of the number 10 shirt previously worn by Lionel Messi, and the pressure that comes with it, has not weighed Fati down. The 18-year-old was the star of the show again, as Barcelona came from a goal down to beat Jose Bordalas’ Valencia. Fati scored one and won the penalty that was converted by Memphis Depay. Philippe Coutinho added a third late on.
In need of a win, the Blaugrana got off to the worst possible start when Valencia captain Jose Gaya blasted the ball into the bottom corner in the fifth minute. As the ball fell to his from a failed clearance off a corner, the left-back put his laces behind it and beat Marc-Andre ter Stegen – from outside the box.
However, Valencia’s lead lasted just eight minutes as Fati brought Barcelona level with a sensational hit of his own. The Spaniard curled the ball with a first-time shot past former Barca goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen from outside the box after being laid up by Memphis Depay.
Fati was later involved in the goal that gave Barcelona the lead before half-time. The teenager was brought down inside the box by Gaya after he nicked the ball just ahead of the defender. Depay stepped up to take the spot-kick and blasted it into the top right corner, leaving Cillessen rooted to his spot.
Barcelona continued to dominate proceedings in the second half even though Fati was taken off by Ronald Koeman in the 59th minute. It was his replacement Philippe Coutinho who put the Blaugrana 3-1 up in the 85th minute.
The Brazilian attacker turned the ball in from close range from a Sergino Dest pass, effectively sealing the win for the Catalans. With the points in the bag, Koeman handed a competitive debut to summer signing Sergio Aguero, who entered the pitch in place of Dest in the 87th minute.
