Valencia CF

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The 2018–19 season provides the only documented interactions between these clubs in the source. On October 7, 2018, Barcelona drew with Valencia CF 1-1 at Mestalla. Messi scored a beautiful equaliser after an early opener from Garay to earn the blaugranes a share of the spoils. Later that season, on 27 February, Barcelona advanced to its sixth consecutive Copa del Rey final. However, after the devastating Champions League semi-final loss to Liverpool on 7 May 2019, the team went on to lose the Copa del Rey final to Valencia. This defeat capped a season that began with treble ambitions but ended with only the La Liga title, which had been secured earlier on 27 April.

In Their Own Story

The atmosphere at Mestalla on October 7, 2018, saw Barcelona trailing after an early opener from Garay. Messi scored a beautiful equaliser to earn a share of the spoils. The later meeting in the Copa del Rey final carried even greater weight. After Barcelona's infamous 4–0 loss to Liverpool on 7 May 2019, which derailed the team, they went on to lose the Copa del Rey final to Valencia. The league title was secured earlier on 27 April, but the cup final loss meant Barcelona failed to complete a domestic double.

Reader's Guide

The source documents two specific matches between Barcelona and Valencia in the 2018–19 season. The first was a La Liga fixture on October 7, 2018, at Mestalla, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Messi scored the equaliser after Garay's opener. The second was the Copa del Rey final, which Valencia won. This defeat came after Barcelona's Champions League semi-final collapse against Liverpool on 7 May 2019. The season was Barcelona's 119th in existence and 88th consecutive in the top flight. Head coach Ernesto Valverde was sacked midway through the next season.

Did You Know?

• Barcelona defeated Sevilla 1–2 on 12 August to win the Supercopa de España, the first trophy won under Lionel Messi's captaincy and his record-breaking 33rd trophy with the club.
• On 18 August, Messi scored the 6,000th La Liga goal in Barcelona's history during a 3-0 win over Alavés.
• Messi scored his record-breaking 8th Champions League hat-trick on 18 September in a 4-0 win over PSV Eindhoven.
• Barcelona lost the Copa del Rey final to Valencia after being derailed by a 4-0 loss to Liverpool in the Champions League semi-final second leg on 7 May 2019.
• The 2018–19 season was the first since 2001–02 without former captain Andrés Iniesta.

The Ambition of the Treble

The 2018–19 campaign marked Barcelona's 119th season and 88th consecutive top-flight campaign. Coming off a double of La Liga and the Copa del Rey, the club aimed for a third continental treble. Lionel Messi's stellar performances kept this alive until 7 May 2019, when Barcelona infamously lost 4–0 to eventual winners Liverpool in the second leg of the Champions League semi-finals, having been up 3–0 after the first game. The league title was secured earlier on 27 April. The loss at Anfield derailed the team and they went on to lose the Copa del Rey final as well, to Valencia. Barça's league title was its eighth in eleven seasons; their next league title would be won in 2022–23. Head coach Ernesto Valverde was sacked midway through the next season. The season was the first since 2001–02 without former captain Andrés Iniesta.

Summer Squad Reconstruction

The transfer window saw significant activity. On 3 June, Barcelona extended Samuel Umtiti's contract through 2022–23 with a €500 million release clause. On 11 June, Gerard Deulofeu transferred to Watford for €13 million plus €4 million in variables. On 8 July, Paulinho was loaned to Guangzhou Evergrande for one season. On 9 July, Arthur joined from Grêmio for €31 million plus €9 million in variables, signing for six seasons with a €400 million buyout clause. On 12 July, Clément Lenglet joined from Sevilla after Barcelona paid his €35.9 million release clause, signing for five seasons with a €300 million buyout clause. On 23 July, Douglas was loaned to Sivasspor and Adrián Ortolá was loaned to Deportivo La Coruña. On 24 July, Malcom joined from Bordeaux for €41 million plus €1 million in variables, signing for five seasons. On 1 August, Lucas Digne transferred to Everton for €20.2 million plus €1.5 million in variables. On 3 August, Arturo Vidal joined from Bayern Munich for €18 million, signing for three seasons. On 4 August, Aleix Vidal transferred to Sevilla for €8.5 million plus €2 million in variables. On 9 August, Yerry Mina transferred to Everton for €30.25 million plus €1.5 million in variables, with a buy-back clause, and André Gomes was loaned to Everton for the season for a €2.25 million fee. On 16 August, Marlon transferred to Sassuolo for €6 million with a buy-back clause. On 20 December, Jeison Murillo was loaned from Valencia with a €25m purchase option.

Domestic Dominance and European Struggles

Barcelona started the league season strongly. On 18 August, they defeated Alavés 3–0 with two goals from Messi, including the 6,000th La Liga goal in the club's history, and one from Coutinho. On 25 August, they beat Real Valladolid 0–1 with a goal from Dembélé. On 2 September, they demolished Huesca 8–2, with Messi scoring 2 goals and giving a penalty to Suárez who scored his 2nd goal. On 15 September, they defeated Real Sociedad 1–2 with goals from Suárez and Dembélé. On 18 September, they beat PSV Eindhoven 4–0 in the Champions League, with Messi scoring his record-breaking 8th Champions League hat-trick and Dembélé scoring. On 23 September, they drew Girona 2–2. On 26 September, they lost to Leganés 2–1. On 29 September, they drew Athletic Bilbao 1–1. On 3 October, they defeated Tottenham 2–4 in the Champions League. On 7 October, they drew with Valencia CF 1-1. On 20 October, they defeated Sevilla 4-2. On 24 October, they defeated Inter Milan 2-0 in the Champions League. On 28 October, they thrashed Real Madrid 5–1 at Camp Nou, with Suárez scoring a hat-trick. On 3 November, they defeated Rayo Vallecano 2-3. On 6 November, they drew Inter Milan 1-1 in the Champions League but still made the knockout stages. On 11 November, they lost 3-4 to Betis. On 24 November, they drew Atlético Madrid 1-1. On 28 November, they defeated PSV Eindhoven 1-2 in the Champions League to ensure top spot in Group B. On 2 December, they defeated Villarreal 2-0. On 8 December, they defeated Espanyol 0-4. On 11 December, they drew 1-1 with Tottenham in the Champions League. On 16 December, they defeated Levante 0-5. On 22 December, they defeated Celta Vigo 2-0. On 6 January, they defeated Getafe 1-2. The league title was secured on 27 April. In the Champions League, they infamously lost 4–0 to Liverpool on 7 May 2019 in the semi-final second leg, having been up 3–0 after the first game. They lost the Copa del Rey final to Valencia.

The Messi Era and Leadership Transition

Lionel Messi's performances were stellar throughout the season. He scored the 6,000th La Liga goal in the club's history on 18 August. He scored his record-breaking 8th Champions League hat-trick on 18 September against PSV Eindhoven. He scored a beautiful equaliser against Valencia on 7 October. He scored 2 goals in the 3-4 loss to Betis on 11 November. He scored two sensational free kicks in the 0-4 win over Espanyol on 8 December. He scored yet another hat-trick in the 0-5 win over Levante on 16 December. He scored in the 2-0 win over Celta Vigo on 22 December. He scored in the 1-2 win over Getafe on 6 January. The Supercopa de España title on 12 August was the first won under his captaincy, and he claimed his record-breaking 33rd trophy with the club. The season was the first since 2001–02 without former captain Andrés Iniesta. Head coach Ernesto Valverde was sacked midway through the next season.