Football
Aubameyang got off to a flying start in Barcelona and scored a hat-trick for Valencia. He also did not score against his favourite opponent for the first time
The question was how the lanky striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang would fare at Barcelona. So far, however, it looks like the change of scenery from rainy London to sunny Barcelona has clearly done him good. He scored almost as many goals at the weekend as he did all autumn at Arsenal.
The question was how the lanky striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang would fare at Barcelona. So far, however, it looks like the change of scenery from rainy London to sunny Barcelona has clearly done him good. He scored almost as many goals at the weekend as he did all autumn at Arsenal.
Barcelona travelled to Valencia on Sunday, the Estadio de Mestalla is not easy to win at. But it’s a bit easier if you have Aubameyang in your team.
The Gabonese striker has already lined up against Valencia in an Arsenal jersey in 2019. He scored a goal in the Europa League semi-final and at home to the Bats in a 3-1 win, but he didn’t really get going until the Mestalla.
In fact, he drove the 4: 2 win with a hat-trick to send Arsenal to the Europa League final. And when he returned to his favourite stadium, he repeated the feat. He opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, working a beautiful pass from Alba behind the defence and hitting the crossbar of Mamardashvili’s goal. It was also his first goal for Barcelona.
But the 32-year-old striker wasn’t finished there. In the 38th minute, he scored for the second time when he ignored Gavi’s offer and increased the score to 3:0. Valencia reduced the deficit to 1: 3 in the second half, but the Gabonese striker was not only very hungry but also very lucky.
In the 63rd minute, Pedri beat the home goalkeeper with a shot from distance. However, the referee spoiled his joy a bit, as the shot hit the back of Aubameyang in flight and he scored a goal for the Gabonese striker.
Aubameyang thus scored six times in two appearances at the Mestalla, scoring a hat-trick on both occasions. In total, he has a record of 3 games, 7 goals against Valencia. So the Bats will surely wish that the Gabonese striker avoids the third biggest city in Spain in the near future.
Source: FC Barcelona, Valencia, Twitter