Barcelona stays top of La Liga as Alaves climbs to second

Barcelona's Lamine Yamal (L) and Fermin Lopez (C) celebrate a goal during the Spanish La Liga football match between Valencia CF and FC Barcelona in Valencia, Spain, Sept. 6, 2026. (Photo: Xinhua)

MADRID, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- Barcelona maintained its perfect start to the La Liga season with a 5-0 rout of Valencia on Sunday.

Lamine Yamal opened the scoring after six minutes with a clever flick from Fermin Lopez's pass. After having another effort ruled out for offside, Yamal turned provider for Lopez to score the second with a left-footed shot.

Valencia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski was helpless as Yamal and Lopez combined again to set up Raphinha for a tap-in early in the second half.

Pedri made it 4-0 with a low shot before Yamal scored his second of the game with six minutes remaining.

Barcelona has scored 17 goals in its first four matches of the season, while Valencia has just one point.

Deportivo Alaves moved into a surprise second place after Lucas Boye scored a hat trick in a 5-2 home win over Osasuna, confirming the club's best-ever start to a season.

Mariano Diaz scored his third goal of the campaign for Alaves, and Pablo Ibanez also found the net against his former club. Ante Budimir scored both of Osasuna's goals.

Sevilla drew 1-1 at Espanyol despite playing with 10 men for more than half an hour after Arouna Sangante was sent off. Espanyol's Omar El Hilali then had a goal ruled out for offside.

Lucas Stassin gave Sevilla the lead with a volley five minutes from time, but Marcos Fernandez scrambled home from close range in the eighth minute of stoppage time to secure a point for Espanyol.

Malaga and Levante drew 0-0. Malaga, still seeking its first win since returning to the top flight, had a chance to take all three points, but Chupe's penalty was saved by Levante goalkeeper Mat Ryan.