Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s career at Barcelona is finally off and running as the former Arsenal striker scored a hat-trick in the 4-1 victory over Valencia on Sunday.
After joining as a free agent in the closing stages of the January window, Aubameyang failed to score in his first three games for Barca.
But the 32-year-old had scored two goals in the first half against Valencia and he completed his hat-trick after the break as he deflected Pedri’s goal-bound effort.
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Pedri was givven with the goal before it was changed, and Aubameyang has now become the first player in the 21st century to score a hat-trick in Ligue 1, the Bundesliga, the Premier League and Spanish La Liga.
Aubameyang has also become the first player to score two hat-tricks in competitive matches at Mestalla as he also netted a treble for Arsenal in the UEFA Europa League in 2019.
It was only a matter of time but the attacker has also become the first Gabonese player to score in La Liga.
Speaking after the match, Barca manager Xavi praised Aubameyang’s performance and said the striker is ‘very intelligent’.
‘He has scored goals his entire career,’ said Xavi. ‘It was to be expected that he would score here soon, too.
‘He goes very well to space. He is mature. He is very intelligent. I am delighted with him. ‘These two [subsequently changed to three] goals will go very well for him.’
Meanwhile, Barca midfielder Sergio Busquets says having Aubameyang in the club’s squad is a ‘luxury’.
‘He is working very well,’ said Busquets. ‘He arrived with a lack of minutes but he is now getting them.
‘He added his second start and I hope he helps us like that because he is a great player, and it is a luxury to have him in the squad.’
