Statement win at Camp Nou

Barcelona made their Champions League debut in style on Wednesday night, blowing Dutch side Feyenoord away 5-1 in the League Phase opener at Camp Nou. Hansi Flick named a 23-man squad for the clash and started Joan Garcia in goal behind Jules Kounde, Pau Cubarsí and Andreas Christensen, with João Cancelo at left-back. Pedri, Rodri and Dani Olmo controlled midfield, while Lamine Yamal and Raphinha flanked Karim Adeyemi up front.

Early blitz and individual brilliance

Barcelona struck inside three minutes when Raphinha latched onto a flick from Yamal, cut inside two Feyenoord defenders and bent a left-foot finish past Tjark Ernst. Adeyemi doubled the lead in the 22nd minute with a curling effort from the left after being given space.

Joan Garcia reacted quickly to deny Anis Hadj Moussa on Feyenoord’s first meaningful attack, and João Cancelo struck the frame shortly after. The hosts went in 2-0 up after dominating possession and chances.

Second-half surge

Feyenoord threatened early in the second half, with Nacho Ferri having a goal ruled out for offside after taking the ball from Garcia. Raphinha restored the two-goal cushion just after, finishing a precise through ball from Pedri.

Ferri was denied again after Ouassama Targhalline’s effort was smothered by Garcia, with an offside decision ruling out the rebound. Yamal then opened his European account for the season with a 77th-minute free-kick that beat the wall and left Ernst wrong-footed.

Sem Steijn pulled one back for Feyenoord from Goncalo Borges’ cross, but Gabriel Jesus restored the four-goal cushion in the 85th minute, heading home Yamal’s cross for his first European goal for Barcelona.

Records and reaction

Raphinha, who now has eight goals in five games across all competitions, pushed back on Ballon d’Or questions after the game, saying he is focused on Barcelona’s campaign. Yamal became the first player since Neymar in 2016 to score a free kick and provide multiple assists in a Champions League match, and he now has 23 goal involvements in the competition, the most by a teenager, overtaking Kylian Mbappe’s previous mark.

The Brazilian’s haul also sees him join Vinícius Jr in an exclusive club of players with 20+ goals and 15+ assists in the last five Champions League seasons. Barcelona have now scored 36 goals against Dutch opposition in European competition.