Barcelona 5-2 Valencia - 4 players who impressed for the Catalans | LaLiga 2019/2020

Barcelona returned to winning ways in LaLiga with an emphatic 5-2 victory over Valencia at Camp Nou to move them up to 4th on the table as they continue their quest to retain their league title.

Despite missing the services of Lionel Messi, Barcelona roared into an early lead and managed to pull off what was arguably their most complete performance of the season till date.

It was almost a five-star display from a number of Barcelona players, and Ernesto Valverde would have been hugely impressed with the application of his wards and positive response to their disappointing 2-2 draw with Osasuna at the El Sadar stadium on matchday 3.

Here we shall be highlighting four players who impressed the most for the Blaugrana.

#4 Frenkie de Jong

De Jong opened his Barcelona account

Frenkie de Jong was the most impressive player during Barcelona's pre-season campaign, but he did not translate that good form to competitive action and struggled to influence proceedings in his early Blaugrana career.

The 22-year-old is highly talented, and he showed elements of his brilliance during the international break with the Netherlands, leading many to opine that Ernesto Valverde was not utilizing the Dutch international properly.

Against Valencia, Frenkie de Jong was in the thick of things and needed just four minutes to make his mark on the game.

The former Ajax man set Ansu Fati up excellently for the game's opening goal, before placing an unstoppable finish past Cillensen after a cutback from Fati for his first goal in Barcelona colours.

For the rest of his time on the field, Frenkie de Jong controlled proceedings, influencing the game with his excellent touches in the middle, while his top notch passing also came to the fore in ensuring that Barcelona had the Lion share of possession.

He was substituted for Ivan Rakitic on 70 minutes, and the ovation he received from the Camp Nou crowd was indicative of Barcelona's fans appreciation of his application in the game against Valencia.

#3 Antoine Griezmann

Griezmann warming up prior to kickoff

It has been a mixed start to life for Antoine Griezmann at Barcelona since completing his record breaking transfer from Atletico Madrid over the summer.

The 28-year-old had an inconspicuous debut in the 1-0 defeat to Athletic Bilbao, before starring in the 5-2 victory over Real Betis on his home debut.

Griezmann put up another anonymous showing in the 2-2 draw with Osasuna, and he would have been happy to spend some time away from the glaring lights of Camp Nou while on international duty with France.

Against Valencia, he was once again deployed as the focal point of attack, and even though he failed to register a goal in the victory, it was from his shot that Cillensen fumbled for Pique to put Barcelona 3-1 up.

Moreover, the former Real Sociedad man made up for that with his willingness to track back and help out with defending, while he was totally at ease with Barcelona's expansive style which goes in stark contrast to the more restrictive football played under Diego Simeone.

#2 Luis Suarez

Luis Suarez had a brace

Luis Suarez' campaign started in less than ideal circumstances, as he pulled up with an injury in the game against Athletic Bilbao barely 30 minutes in.

The Uruguayan had been Barcelona's brightest spark in a game they ultimately went on to lose, and given Lionel Messi's continued absence, it was imperative that Suarez returned to full fitness.

In the buildup to the game against Valencia, reports emanated that the former Liverpool man was in line to return to full fitness, and given the precarious nature of his injury, Valverde made the informed decision to start him from the bench.

With Barcelona already 3-1 up, Suarez was introduced in place of Ansu Fati ostensibly to get a little run-in ahead of Barcelona's Champions League clash, but in keeping to his true striking instinct, Suarez put Barcelona 4-1 up with virtually his first touch of the game, slotting past Jasper Cillensen with an effortless and almost nonchalant stroke into the bottom corner to open his goals account this season.

With eight minutes left on the clock, Luis Suarez got his brace against his favourite opponents in Barcelona's colours (the goal was his 12th against Valencia) to remind everyone of his importance to the Blaugrana cause.

#1 Ansu Fati

Ansu Fati grabbed a goal and an assist

Ansu Fati has worn the Barcelona senior team jersey for just under two hours, but he has already played his way into the record books.

After impressing with his first two appearances off the bench, the 16-year-old was handed a start from the get-go against Valencia, and he took his opportunity with both feet.

Just four minutes into the clash, he opened his Camp Nou account; finishing a pass from Frenkie de Jong to become the youngest ever goalscorer at the mythical stadium.

Three minutes later, he returned the favour, showing great composure to bear Ezequiel Garay at the byline before cutting back excellently for the Dutchman to place past Jasper Cillenssen.

Ansu Fati is highly rated, with his talent level having not been seen for a long while at La Masia, and despite his young age, he seemed unfazed by the grandness of the stage he was on and was more than willing to take on opposition defenders more than twice his age.

He also showed that he was unafraid of shooting from distance, and while some way skewed way wide of the goal, this skillset would come in handy for Barcelona at some point during the campaign.

He was substituted on 60 minutes and got a standing ovation from everyone in the crowd including Lionel Messi, and with Barcelona needing to quickly start planning for life post their mercurial Argentine, Ansu Fati could well be on the way to making Messi's exit from the scene less impactful.