By half-time, Maresca was compelled to introduce several of his big guns in an attempt to steady the ship. The changes brought improvement, but the overall showing still left questions about the team's sharpness and resilience.

Speaking to Chelsea's official website after the match, Maresca explained that not all of his substitutions were a direct response to the team's poor first-half display.

"We planned 45 minutes for Wes[ley Fofana] because he was a long time out. We planned not all the game for Jorrel [Hato], because I've said many times that when you've just arrived from another country you need time to adapt," said Maresca.

"Facundo [Buonanotte] joined us two weeks ago, physically also he is not 100 per cent.

“We needed to manage different situations, like Estevao [Willian] had to miss out. Joao Pedro also was not 100 per cent, but he did the effort to play part of the game.”

21:T6e4,

The win came as the ideal response to last weekend's frustrating draw against Rayo Vallecano, and it was achieved without teenage star Lamine Yamal, who is still sidelined through injury.

Fermin Lopez opened the scoring just before the half-hour mark, smashing a low shot into the corner after a clever touch from Ferran Torres. Barcelona had already been denied by goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala, who saved efforts from Jules Kounde and Lopez, but the breakthrough put Hansi Flick's side firmly in control.

After the break, Barca's attack exploded. Raphinha doubled the advantage in the 53rd minute when he diverted Marcus Rashford's cross into the corner. Three minutes later, Lopez struck again with a fierce long-range effort that beat Agirrezabala despite the keeper's fingertip touch.

Valencia's defence then collapsed under pressure, with Raphinha pouncing on a poor clearance to score his second in the 66th minute.

Substitute Lewandowski soon joined the party, slotting home Dani Olmo's through ball with a superb finish into the top corner. The Polish striker rounded off th

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