Barcelona 5-1 Feyenoord: Captain Raphinha shines as Barça smash Feyenoord
· Yahoo Sports
Raphinha leads from the front to inspire Barcelona rout as Hansi Flick’s side make emphatic Champions League start against Feyenoord.
Visit rocore.sbs for more information.
Captain and makeshift striker Raphinha continued his excellent start to the season by putting Barcelona in front within minutes, before Karim Adeyemi scored a wonder strike to add a second in the first half.
Raphinha added a second soon after half time, before Lamine Yamal’s free-kick extended the lead to four. Sem Steijn scored a consolation goal ten minutes from time, but Gabriel Jesus restored the four-goal advantage, as Barça cruised to a comfortable victory on Champions League Matchday One.
As it happened
On an incredibly wet night at the Spotify Camp Nou, the home side got off to a dream early start. Raphinha, who has taken up the role as the striker this season, dropped the shoulder as he cut inside, sending two Feyenoord players sliding through the wet grass, before firing past Tjark Ernst to give Barça an early lead.
While the hosts continued to dominate the contest, Feyenoord did break quickly and had a shout for a penalty, but it was waved away by the referee and VAR very quickly.
And within two minutes, they found themselves two down. Karim Adeyemi picked the ball up on the left before unleashing a brilliant curling effort into the top corner, as he announced himself to the Camp Nou crowd.
The chances continued to come at both ends of the pitch, as Hadj Moussa broke through the Barcelona defence at pace, but Joan García pulled off a great reaction save to deny him. At the other end, João Cancelo showed great skill to carry the ball into the box before he fired a powerful effort which clipped the outside of the post.
Ten minutes into the second half, captain Raphinha was at it again. Pedri played a wonderful pass through the Feyenoord defence finding the Brazilian making the run in behind, and he calmly slotted home to add his second of the night, bringing his tally to eight for the season already.
Almost instantly after this Nacho Ferri thought he got one back for Feyenoord, but VAR ruled that there was an offside in the build-up.
The Barcelona rout continued as Lamine Yamal got in on the action. He stepped up and fired a free-kick through the parting wall, past Ernst and into the corner as the hosts added a fourth.
The Dutch side did get a goal back towards the end, as Sem Steijn tapped home from close range after Gonçalo Borges’ cross picked the substitute out at the back post, as he grabbed a consolation goal for the visitors.
Barça’s four-goal advantage was restored soon after, as Yamal’s cross was flicked home by Gabriel Jesus, as the Brazilian scored his first goal in the famous Blue and Red of Barcelona, sealing a comfortable opening win in the process.