The deficit was countered in a flash
Lewandowski saves Flick's Barça debut
Hansi Flick celebrates a successful league premiere with FC Barcelona: The former national soccer coach first has to watch his team fall behind, but thanks to Robert Lewandowski he can still celebrate at the end of a nerve-wracking evening.
Despite personnel concerns and a weak start, Hansi Flick had a successful league debut at FC Barcelona – like his German predecessors Hennes Weisweiler and Udo Lattek. The former national soccer coach won 2-1 (1-1) with the Catalans at the start of the season in the Spanish Primera Division at FC Valencia because his former Bayern protégé Robert Lewandowski scored a brace. Weisweiler started the league in 1975 with a 3-2 win at FC Elche, Lattek in 1981 with a 4-0 win against FC Cadiz.
Flick not only had to do without new signing Dani Olmo, who was signed by Bundesliga club RB Leipzig a week ago for a transfer fee of 55 million euros plus possible bonuses. The ailing national team captain Ilkay Gündogan was also missing, as were the injured Gavi and Frenkie de Jong. The 17-year-old Marc Bernal made his league debut.
Five days after the completely botched dress rehearsal in the 3-0 defeat against AS Monaco, where the first criticism was loud, Flick was initially lucky that his team didn't fall behind early. Valencia had the first chances to score, new captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen made a desperate save from a deflected cross from Olympic champion Diego Lopez (21').
It happened shortly before the break: Hugo Duro scored with his head, but he was only allowed to celebrate after video evidence and the offside decision was overturned (44th). After a catastrophic mistake by ter Stegen in building up the game, Pau Cubarsi saved from Duro on the line (45th + 3). Thanks to Lewandowski, the score was 1-1: the 35-year-old Pole surprisingly equalized after a cross from European champion Lamine Yamal (45th+6). Shortly after the restart, the former Bundesliga top scorer turned the game around with a penalty kick (49'). Raphinha was fouled in the penalty area.
