Gordon takes the prize as Barça stay perfect

Anthony Gordon's early-season fairytale in Barcelona colours continued on Saturday, with the summer signing crowned Man of the Match in the Blaugrana's 3-0 victory over Getafe at the Spotify Camp Nou — a result that kept the club's flawless start to the La Liga campaign intact.

Handed a start on the left wing by Hansi Flick as a reward for a stellar international break, the former Newcastle United winger featured from the off as Barcelona marked their return to action in Catalunya's capital. His opportunity came with the hosts' options depleted, after Raphinha, Roony Bardghji and Frenkie de Jong had all been ruled out ahead of the Matchday 8 fixture.

The highlight of a fine all-round showing arrived almost immediately. Inside the opening two minutes, Gordon cut inside from the left, beat several defenders and directed home a deflected strike to break the deadlock.

According to match reporting published in the early hours of October 11, the goal came after just 78 seconds — the earliest scored by any player in La Liga this season, and the earliest by an English player in the competition at any point in the 21st century.

Gordon almost turned provider twelve minutes later, cutting inside from the left once more to bend a lovely cross into the box, though Dani Olmo's glancing touch sent it wide. Moments afterwards, Gavi saw a glancing header saved by Getafe goalkeeper David Soria as the hosts pressed their early advantage.

Getafe, who arrived in Barcelona having scored just four goals in their first seven league games of the season, refused to change their approach after conceding early and sat very deep in their trademark low block. The hosts' superiority eventually told, and the eventual 3-0 scoreline made it eight wins from eight to open the 2026-27 campaign.

Beating stellar competition for the award

When the individual honours were handed out, there was little debate over the recipient. Despite competition from the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Lamine Yamal, Gordon's efforts were recognised courtesy of the Man of the Match prize at the Spotify Camp Nou.

That Yamal was among those Gordon edged out underlines the quality of the display: the teenage winger had racked up seven goals and four assists in his first seven La Liga appearances of the season, per a FotMob snapshot taken on the morning of matchday.

For Gordon himself, the accolade is further evidence of a rapid settling-in period since his summer move from Newcastle United. A FotMob snapshot fetched on October 10 credited the Englishman with four assists across his first seven La Liga appearances of 2026-27 — a creative return his match-winning, Man-of-the-Match showing against Getafe has now built upon.

With this fixture having opened a demanding run of five matches in two weeks for Barcelona, Flick may well be leaning on his in-form new winger again before long.