Lewandowski scores twice as Barcelona beat Valencia 2-1 in La Liga opener

Robert Lewandowski scored late in the first half and early in the second to give Barcelona a winning start in coach Hansi Flick's Spanish league debut.

The goals by Lewandowski gave the Catalan club a 2-1 win at Valencia in its opening league match on Saturday.

It was Flick's first official match in charge after he replaced former club great Xavi Hernndez at the end of last season.

It was very important to debut with a victory," Flick said. We made some mistakes in the first half but we improved in the second.

Valencia opened the scoring with a header by Hugo Duro in the 44th, but Barcelona rallied with goals by Lewandowski in first-half stoppage time and four minutes into the second half.

The goal at the end of the first half was very important, Flick said.

Duro's goal was initially disallowed for offside, but video review determined it should stand.

Lewandowski's first goal came after an assist from teenager Lamine Yamal, whose father was stabbed on Wednesday after an altercat