Led by the finishing of Brazilian Raphinha, scorer of a goal as a “9, and the authority in midfield of Pedro González “Pedri”, Barcelona earned its second win (2-0) in LaLiga against Athletic Club, in the debut of Madrid midfielder Rodrigo Hernández “Rodri” wearing the blaugrana shirt.
The Catalan side was far superior to a brave opponent and, if they did not secure a more comfortable victory, it was due to the fantastic performance of the visiting goalkeeper Unai Simón, who was key to keeping his team in the match before the second goal by Fermín López, in the 82nd minute, with which the home side sealed the contest.
Rodri proudly puts on Barcelona colors as Spain captain begins blockbuster new chapter
Without a tribute to the eight blaugrana world champions, canceled by the Catalan club after National Police officers struck a Barcelona fan in Elche after snatching a pro-independence estelada flag from him, the spotlight was on the Camp Nou stands before the match. And after that incident, a significant number of fans displayed pro-independence flags during the game.
While in the stands there was the particular “act of exaltation of the estelada” predicted by Barça president Joan Laporta, when the referee blew the start of the match, the particular “rock&roll” devised by the two German coaches began.
Even though the precedents against the Blaugrana side at Camp Nou were not favorable for his team, Terzic was not intimidated. He overhauled the lineup by bringing in Hugo Rincón and Johaneko Louis-Jean at full-back; Aymeric Laporte at center-back, Mikel Jauregizar in the double pivot; and winger Nico Williams, who was heavily whistled by the Camp Nou crowd.
The Basque side pressed Barcelona with voracious intensity and turned the match into a back-and-forth affair between two very direct teams, unafraid of conceding. And Flick’s team -recognizable with the introductions of Pau Cubarsí, Pedri and Anthony Gordon- took twenty minutes to take control of the match.
A left-footed strike by Lamine Yamal, parried by a providential save from Unai Simón, sparked the blaugrana side, which, a few minutes later, came close to scoring again with a header from Raphinha that clipped the post, and who, with Julián Álvarez at Atlético de Madrid, once again played as the “9”.
With Pedri at the helm of the ship, Fermín shaking things up in attacking midfield and Lamine Yamal, still short of full fitness, threatening with his talent down the wing, the home side prowled around the Rojiblancos’ box looking for a goal that came in the 29th minute, courtesy of Pedri, but was ruled out for a previous offside by the forward from Mataró.
In these, Athletic threatened on the counterattack, with a break led by Iñaki Williams that was stopped by Xavi Espart, who was booked. Athletic’s players, with Yuri Berchiche’s red card still fresh in their minds, called for the Barça academy product to be sent off, interpreting that he was the last man in defense.
Athletic’s resistance ended in the 37th minute. Pedri took hold of the ball and delivered a perfect vertical pass that Raphinha latched onto, precise in his run and fantastic in the finish. The Brazilian scored a goal worthy of a top-class centre-forward after dribbling past Unai Simón and tapping the ball into the net unopposed.
Before the break, the Spanish national team’s starting goalkeeper once again denied Lamine Yamal a goal, his shot striking the shoulder of his teammate on the national team.
Flick stuck to his plan in the second half
In the restart, Barcelona continued with its plan. Pedri, omnipresent in the middle of the park, controlled Athletic’s proactive play while waiting for the runs of Raphinha and the flashes of Lamine Yamal, who smashed a ball against the crossbar, and Fermín López.
Terzic gave the team fresh legs by bringing on Berenguer and Robert Navarro, while Flick surprised everyone by replacing his striker with Rodri. Despite the whirlwind of attacking play, the Blaugrana goal would not come, and Athletic pushed forward in search of an equalizer as the minutes ticked by. Sancet gave the home fans a scare with a thunderous long-range strike that was spat out by the post.
But Terzic’s team’s chances faded with Fermín’s goal, who finished at will from an “assist” by Aymeric Laporte. Unai Simón, this time, was already beaten.
Third goal for the Andalusian attacking midfielder in the first two league matches, the same number as Raphinha, who together with the spark provided by Pedri ended the resistance of Unai Simón’s Athletic Club, who are still without a point in this league.
– Technical sheet:
2 – Barcelona: Joan García; Eric (Koundé, 80th min.), Cubarsí, Gerard Martín, Espart; Bernal (Olmo, 63rd min.), Fermín, Pedri (Cancelo, 85th min.); Lamine Yamal, Raphinha (Rodri, 63rd min.), Gordon (Adeyemi, 80th min.).
0 – Athletic Club: Unai Simón; Rincón, Yeray, Laporte, Johaneko (Boiro, min.70); Jauregizar (Gerenabarrena, min.70), Canales; Williams (Berenguer, min.60), Sancet, Williams Jr (Navarro, min.60).; Guruzeta (Djaló, min.81).
Goals: 1-0, min.37: Raphinha. 2-0, min.82: Fermín.
Referee: Miguel Ángel Ortiz Arias (Madrid committee). He showed a yellow card to Xavi Espart (min.27) for Barça and to Gorka Guruzeta (min.48), to Johaneko (min.61) for Athletic Club.
Notes: Match of the first LaLiga EA Sports matchday played at the Spotify Camp Nou stadium before 59,326 spectators. Joan Garcia and Lamine Yamal were presented with the La Liga Fantasy Trophy. A minute of silence was observed in memory of the FC Barcelona members who passed away last season.