Raphinha, Lopez hit braces as Barcelona trounce Elche
Barcelona secured a dominant 5-0 victory over Elche in their La Liga season opener, with standout performances from Raphinha and Fermin Lopez. The match served as a strong statement of intent for the Spanish champions.
Why it matters
As a major European football club, Barcelona's performance in league openers is a key indicator of their competitive standing for the season.
Spanish champions Barcelona cruised to a 5-0 win over Elche on Sunday in their La Liga opener with Raphinha and Fermin Lopez scoring twice each and Anthony Gordon setting up two goals on his debut.
After watching Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid defeat Espanyol 2-1 on Saturday with a late winner, Barca's display warned the Portuguese coach that the Catalans will not relinquish the title easily.
Karim Adeyemi also found the net on his debut as Barca made light work of a vulnerable Elche side at the Martinez Valero stadium.
Starting LaLiga with a BANG! 💥 pic.twitter.com/LqkGlYZVst
Hansi Flick started with several regular starters on the bench as they continue to get up to speed following the World Cup.
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