LaLiga
Lewandowski farewell dampened in Barca defeat
Barcelona finished its title-winning LaLiga campaign with a defeat after it lost 3-1 to Valencia at Estadio de Mestalla on the final day.… Show More
Barcelona finished its title-winning LaLiga campaign with a defeat after it lost 3-1 to Valencia at Estadio de Mestalla on the final day.
Robert Lewandowski scored on his final appearance for Barca, but goals from Javi Guerra, Luis Rioja and Guido Rodriguez secured victory for Valencia, although it was not enough to achieve European qualification.
Valencia had plenty of chances to score before half-time, with Diego Lopez firing over at the near post before Hugo Duro failed to keep his header down, while Lewandowski saw his headed attempt from a corner cannon back off the left post.
However, the Polish forward would not be denied just after the hour mark, as he showed his striker's instinct to divert Ferran Torres's wayward volley past Stole Dimitrievski.
Lewandowski's goal seemed to wake Valencia up in the second half and it was level just five minutes later when Guerra powered an effort in from distance after Xavi Espart lost possession.
And by the 71st minute, the home side was ahead. Guerra saw an attempt blocked this time around, but when the rebound fell to Rioja, he dribbled inside past two Barca defenders before scoring at the near post.
Andreas Christensen almost snatched a late leveller for the Blaugrana, but saw his flick from a corner expertly kept out on the line by Dimitrievski, before Rodriguez got the better of Wojciech Szczesny from range at the other end in stoppage-time.
