FC Barcelona began their La Liga season with a 5-0 victory over Elche CF at the Martinez Valero stadium on Sunday night.
Raphinha and Fermin Lopez both scored twice, alongside a goal from new signing Karim Adeyemi and two assists from debutant Anthony Gordon, as Hansi Flick's team produced an overwhelming second-half performance.
Before kick-off, a ceremony was held on the pitch to present a commemorative plaque to the Barcelona players who were crowned world champions on July 19. The result extended Elche's losing streak against Barcelona to 12 consecutive matches, with the home side remaining without a win in the fixture since 1974.
Flick lined up with Joan Garcia in goal, supported by Espart at right-back, Christensen and Eric Garcia in central defence, and Gerard Martin at left-back. Gavi, Marc Bernal, and Fermin Lopez started in midfield, while Adeyemi, Lamine Yamal, and Raphinha formed the attack, with Raphinha operating as a central striker in the absence of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres. Elche manager Eder Sarabia selected Matias Dituro in goal alongside Victor Chust, Redondo, Sangare, Tete Morente, Aguado, Houary, Fer Nino, and Gonzalo Villar.
The match opened at a slow pace, with Fermin committing an early foul in the fourth minute. Barcelona missed a major opportunity in the sixth minute when Eric Garcia played a long ball behind the defence to Lamine Yamal, who struck his left-footed shot high over the crossbar. Elche threatened in the 10th minute through Sangare, but Gerard Martin intercepted the danger.
Barcelona took the lead in the 17th minute after Raphinha received a pass between the lines and was brought down inside the box by Redondo. Although Redondo claimed Raphinha had dived, the referee awarded a penalty. Raphinha took the spot-kick himself, placing a low shot into the bottom left corner past Dituro, who guessed the direction correctly but could not reach the ball.
Elche sought a response in the 17th minute when Villar headed wide, while Christensen intercepted a pass from Sangare towards Fer Nino in the 22nd minute. Raphinha won the ball back in the 26th minute but selected Fermin instead of an unmarked Lamine Yamal on the right. Following a hydration break in the 29th minute after an aerial clash between Christensen and Tete Morente, Sangare fouled Gavi in the 37th minute.
Barcelona suffered an injury blow in the 43rd minute when Gavi sat down on the pitch. Unable to continue, Gavi was substituted for Pedri in the 44th minute. Adeyemi beat Chust in the 42nd minute before firing wide, but Barcelona doubled their lead in the 48th minute when Sangare misplaced a long pass out from defence. Marc Bernal intercepted, and Barcelona quickened the passing as Raphinha found Adeyemi between the central defenders to finish with his right foot. Bernal volleyed a free-kick high over the bar in the 50th minute of first-half stoppage time.
At half-time, Villar stated that Elche had made costly mistakes in the final minutes of the half. He admitted the team lacked precision with long passes, but argued that their overall performance had been good and that scoring early in the second half would bring them back into the game.
Second-half dominance and Gordon debut
Barcelona raised their tempo after the restart, pushing their defensive line up to the halfway line. Lamine Yamal set up Raphinha in the 47th minute, but the Brazilian failed to convert when clear on goal. Elche responded in the 50th minute through German Valera and Villar, who threaded a pass to Fer Nino before Gerard Martin executed a late challenge. Tete Morente hit the post for Elche in the 52nd minute, though the referee whistled for an earlier aerial foul on Christensen.
Lamine Yamal shot high from distance in the 53rd minute following a setup by Adeyemi, before appearing to pull up in discomfort while delivering a pass in the 55th minute. Joan Garcia came off his line to clear ahead of Fer Nino in the 57th minute and caught a Tete Morente cross on the penalty spot in the 60th minute. Dituro saved a low cross from Raphinha in the 62nd minute.
Sarabia made a triple substitution in the 63rd minute, bringing on Cepeda, Nieto, and Buonanotte for Tete Morente, Aguado, and Houary. Flick responded in the 65th minute by replacing Lamine Yamal and Adeyemi with Dani Olmo and British winger Anthony Gordon.
Gordon made an immediate impact on his official Barcelona debut, providing his first assist in the 67th minute by playing a ball down the left for Raphinha to slot a low shot inside the post for 3-0. Sarabia brought on Ponce for Fer Nino in the 68th minute, before Buonanotte hit the post for Elche in the 69th minute after a Barcelona defensive error.
Barcelona added a fourth in the 71st minute when Gordon broke from his own half onto a through ball from Pedri. Gordon sprinted toward goal, drew Dituro out, and passed to Fermin for a simple tap-in, marking Gordon's second assist of the game. Buonanotte attempted a long-range shot in the 73rd minute before a second hydration break in the 75th minute.
Fermin completed the scoring in the 79th minute, receiving a pass from Espart with his back to goal inside the box, turning past Redondo, and finishing past Dituro for 5-0. Redondo, who had experienced a difficult match, was substituted immediately afterwards for Bigas in the 80th minute, having also been singled out by manager Martin Anselmi during his withdrawal.
Flick made further changes, replacing Raphinha with Joao Cancelo in the 81st minute and Eric Garcia with Jules Kounde in the 85th minute. Dituro denied Gordon a debut goal in the 84th minute, saving his shot while Cancelo was unmarked at the back post. Cepeda was flagged offside in the 83rd minute, while Sangare saw a late 91st-minute shot blocked by Barcelona's defence before the final whistle blew after three minutes of stoppage time.
Striker debate and transfer window moves
The 5-0 victory has reopened internal debate at Barcelona over whether the club needs to sign a traditional central striker before the transfer window closes in nine days. Operating without Lewandowski or Ferran Torres, Flick's attack demonstrated clinical finishing, suggesting the squad may manage with its current options.
The match followed a week dominated by the signing of Rodri, but sporting director Deco still has significant work ahead before the deadline. Several departures are pending, with Marc Casado, Hector Fort, and Alex Balde currently on the departure ramp.
Regarding potential arrivals, Barcelona are awaiting official confirmation for the signing of goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, who is expected to replace Wojciech Szczesny next season as backup to Joan Garcia. The club is also determining whether to advance negotiations for Julian Alvarez or pursue a backup alternative.
Both Barcelona and Real Madrid turn their attention to midweek action next, when they will play their postponed fixtures from the opening matchday of the La Liga season.
