Raphinha and Fermin Lopez Shine as Barcelona Crush Elche 5-0

Barcelona sent an early statement in the La Liga title race by demolishing Elche 5-0 in their opening league fixture on Sunday.

Raphinha and Fermin Lopez struck twice each, while Anthony Gordon impressed on his debut by providing two assists as Barcelona comfortably swept aside Elche at the Martinez Valero.

Karim Adeyemi also scored on his first appearance for the club, completing a dominant afternoon for Hansi Flick’s team.

The result followed Real Madrid’s 2-1 victory over Espanyol on Saturday, when Jose Mourinho’s side secured a late winner. Barcelona’s emphatic performance showed the defending champions are unlikely to surrender their title without a fight.

Flick rested several established players as his squad continues to build match fitness after the World Cup. Lamine Yamal started on the right wing, but the teenage Spain international was unable to reproduce his best form.

“This is a difficult place to go and they’re a team that like to have the ball, but we did very well,” Raphinha told Movistar.

With Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres having left the club, Raphinha was deployed through the middle as the number nine and quickly justified Flick’s decision.

Barcelona remain in the market for a striker after Atletico Madrid turned down their proposal for Julian Alvarez.

Asked whether the club needed another number nine, Raphinha replied: “I’ll leave that to the president.”

“I am comfortable (anywhere) on the pitch,” he added.

Barcelona took the lead in the 14th minute when Chust fouled Raphinha inside the penalty area. The Brazilian calmly converted the resulting spot-kick.

Elche attempted to respond, but Barcelona remained in control. Eric Garcia produced a timely defensive intervention to halt a dangerous attack, while Gavi was prominent in midfield, with his new pink hairstyle also attracting attention as Spain celebrated its World Cup success.

The visitors doubled their lead before the interval. Adeyemi initially looked unsettled on the left but grew into the contest and finished after Raphinha chose to set him up rather than shoot himself.

Gordon was introduced in the second half and immediately made his presence felt. The former Newcastle United winger supplied Raphinha for his second goal and then created another opportunity for Lopez to make it 4-0.

Barcelona’s fifth arrived when Xavi Espart found Lopez, who calmly completed his brace to seal a convincing victory.

Although Flick’s high defensive line occasionally exposed Barcelona, Joan Garcia was equal to the chances that came his way and ensured the champions finished with a clean sheet.

Chust acknowledged the gulf between the two sides after the final whistle.

“We were playing against a great team and you pay for your errors,” the Elche defender said.

“It was a tough day but I’ll take from it that the team didn’t stop running.”

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