Barcelona began their pursuit of a third consecutive La Liga title with a commanding 5-0 victory over Elche. Under the guidance of Hansi Flick, the Catalan side dominated the opening match of the season, with Brazilian forward Raphinha emerging as the standout performer. Raphinha not only scored twice and provided an assist but also maintained a flawless record from the penalty spot, cementing his status as a key figure in the team’s attacking setup.
The hosts took control early, with Raphinha opening the scoring from the penalty spot in the 14th minute. The spot-kick was awarded after Elche defender Victor Chust fouled Raphinha as he broke into the box following a precise through-ball from Fermin Lopez. By converting this penalty, Raphinha extended his perfect streak to nine goals from nine attempts for Barcelona. Since joining the club in the 2022-23 season, no other player in Spanish football has scored more goals from penalties across all competitions.
Barcelona doubled their lead just before halftime when Karim Adeyemi, making his La Liga debut, scored from a Raphinha assist. The momentum continued into the second half, with Raphinha netting his second goal of the night in the 67th minute, assisted by new signing Anthony Gordon. Gordon, who came off the bench, made a significant impact by providing two assists within four minutes of his introduction. Fermin Lopez further extended the lead in the 71st minute with his first goal of the game, again set up by Gordon, before adding his second and Barcelona’s fifth in the closing stages to seal the 5-0 win. Elche struggled to respond, with their best effort coming from a Buonanotte strike that hit the post.
Despite the emphatic result, the match was marred by an injury to Gavi, who was forced off with a right knee problem late in the first half and replaced by Pedri. Coach Hansi Flick indicated that further medical examinations are required to determine the severity of the injury. While new signing Rodri was not included in the squad for this fixture, the team successfully launched their league campaign with a performance that showcased both their depth and clinical finishing.
