Barcelona opened their UEFA Champions League campaign with a 5-1 victory over Dutch side Feyenoord at Spotify Camp Nou in Barcelona on Wednesday, 9 September. Raphinha scored twice to lead the Spanish club to a dominant win in the first round of Europe's premier club competition.
German winger Karim Adeyemi, Spanish forward Lamine Yamal and Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus also scored for the Catalan team. Steijn provided the sole goal for Feyenoord late in the second half.
Barcelona, five-time European champions playing in Spain's top division LaLiga, returned to Spotify Camp Nou for the opening match of the European campaign. Feyenoord, based in Rotterdam and one of the historic clubs of the Dutch Eredivisie, traveled to Catalonia for the first round of UEFA's premier club competition.
First half goals
Raphinha put Barcelona ahead after just three minutes of play with an impressive individual goal. Wearing the number 11 shirt, the Brazilian winger ran onto a pass played behind the Feyenoord defense, dribbled past two defenders and finished into the net to make it 1-0.
The host team expanded their lead in the 21st minute through Adeyemi. The German international winger gathered the ball on the left wing, cut inside toward the center of the pitch and unleashed a powerful strike into the goal to double Barcelona's advantage in the first half.
Second half performance
Barcelona continued their attacking momentum after halftime, with Raphinha scoring his second goal 12 minutes into the second half to extend the lead to 3-0. Yamal, Barcelona's teenage forward, added a fourth for the home side in the 22nd minute of the second half by curling a free kick past the Feyenoord goalkeeper.
Feyenoord managed to cut the deficit in the 37th minute of the second half when Steijn scored to make the score 4-1. The goal provided brief encouragement for the visiting Dutch side heading into the closing minutes of the game.
Barcelona quickly responded in the 40th minute of the second half when Gabriel Jesus scored his first goal in a Barcelona shirt. Yamal delivered a cross into the penalty box, allowing the Brazilian striker to direct the ball home and complete the 5-1 victory for the Spanish club.
The goal marked a milestone for Gabriel Jesus, who opened his account for Barcelona following his arrival at the Spanish club. The comprehensive victory earned Barcelona three points in the opening round of the Champions League group stage.
Upcoming fixtures
Barcelona return to domestic action on Sunday, 13 September, when they travel to face Levante in LaLiga. The match is scheduled to kick off at 11:15 a.m. Brasilia time as the Catalan club turns its focus back to Spanish league play.
Feyenoord will also resume domestic league action on Sunday, 13 September, hosting Zwolle in the Dutch Eredivisie. Their league fixture will kick off at 11:45 a.m. Brasilia time as the Rotterdam side seeks to recover from their European defeat.
