Aubameyang opens Barcelona account with a hat-trick
Key takeaways:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang netted his first Barcelona goals by recording a hat-trick as they prolonged their undefeated run in La Liga to nine games with a win at Valencia.
- Barcelona earns their victory away from home.
Barcelona defeats Valencia with a three-goal lead:
Aubameyang, who joined from Arsenal for free on 2 February, banged in the opener on his first La Liga beginning.
Frenkie de Jong scored in a second, and Aubameyang converted from close range, despite a VAR review offside.
Carlos Soler drew one back before Aubameyang notched an excellent third.
Substitute Pedri seemed to have netted Barcelona's fourth, but his rugged 25-yard shot deflected Aubameyang's back on its route in.
The goal was initially offered to 19-year-old Pedri but subsequently rewarded Aubameyang.
He could have added a fourth goal late when a ball dropped his way in the box, only for home keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili to decline the 32-year-old.
Barca midfielder Sergio Busquets stated: "Since Aubameyang came, he has been working hard. We know he hasn't played many minutes this season."
"He is a fantastic player, and having him in the team, having come here for free, is cheerful for us."
Barca boss Xavi will be fascinated with his squad's efficiency as they prolonged their unbeaten run in the league, which now extends back to 4 December.
Their three shots delivered three goals in the first half as Valencia paid for a slack 15-minute period in which Barca's swift passing clicked.
Valencia - now seven matches without a victory in the league - thought they had made it 3-1 before the break but Soler was restricted, with VAR for the first time ruling out a goal in La Liga because the ball had run out of play for a throw-in.
Soler powered in a diving header after half-time, but Aubameyang's glanced third put a stop to any comeback expectancies.