The FC Barcelona squad opened their new LaLiga EA Sports campaign with a dominant 5-0 victory against Elche CF at the Martínez Valero stadium, according to reports from Cadena SER and La Vanguardia. Playing under manager Hansi Flick, the reigning champions established control early in the fixture, propelled by a standout performance from Raphinha, who captained the side and operated as a central reference in attack.
Raphinha Leads the Attack With Two Goals and an Assist
With Barcelona continuing to evaluate roster decisions regarding a permanent centre-forward, Raphinha shouldered leadership responsibilities in the final third. The Brazilian forward opened the scoring in the 14th minute by converting a penalty kick that he also earned, after Elche defender Chust brought him down inside the area following a intercepted pass from Espart in midfield. Raphinha added his second goal and Barcelona’s third in the 67th minute, finishing a one-on-one opportunity against Elche goalkeeper Dituro after receiving a pass from newly arrived English winger Gordon. In addition to his two goals, Raphinha contributed an assist during the 5-0 rout.
New Signings Make Official Debuts as Squad Manages Injuries
The match marked competitive debuts for several new squad additions, including Adeyemi and Gordon. Adeyemi capped his first official appearance with a goal just before halftime, scoring in the 45+3rd minute to extend Barcelona’s lead to 2-0. However, the victory was tempered by an injury to midfielder Gavi, who departed the pitch clutching his right knee. Medical staff plan to conduct further tests to determine the extent of the damage. Manager Hansi Flick also utilized the second half to manage minutes, giving rests to Adeyemi and Lamine Yamal while introducing Dani Olmo, Koundé, and Cancelo—the latter returning for his third stint with the Catalan club.
Fermín López Seals the Scoreline in the Second Half
Midfielder Fermín López capitalized on the team’s relentless second-half pressure by adding two goals of his own. In the 71st minute, López joined the scoresheet to make it 4-0. He struck again in the 79th minute with a sharp turn inside the penalty box, firing a crossed shot past Dituro to round out the 5-0 scoreline. The commanding performance leaves Barcelona at the top of the standings as they prepare for their upcoming fixture.
Next Match and Roster Outlook
Barcelona returns to action on Thursday at the Camp Nou to face Athletic Club. Meanwhile, club management continues to assess the transfer market for potential additions in central defence and attack, alongside ongoing roster evaluations involving players such as Balde, Casadó, and Héctor Fort.
