By Ayomide Otitoju
Barcelona continued their perfect start to the La Liga season with a 2-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao on Thursday, with goals from Raphinha and Fermin Lopez securing the points for the Spanish champions.
The victory came in Barcelona’s first league match of the season at the partially rebuilt Camp Nou, where new signing Rodri made his debut after coming on as a second-half substitute.
Raphinha opened the scoring in the 37th minute after rounding Athletic goalkeeper Unai Simon before calmly sliding the ball into the net.
Barcelona dominated much of the match and created several opportunities to extend their lead, hitting the woodwork twice before Lopez sealed the victory in the 82nd minute.
The Catalan side had made three changes to the team that defeated Elche 5-0 the previous weekend, with Anthony Gordon making his first start for the club, while Pedri Gonzalez returned to midfield and Pau Cubarsi started in defence.
Coach Hansi Flick again deployed Raphinha as a makeshift central striker following the departures of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres.
The Brazilian had scored twice against Elche and continued his scoring form against Athletic, reinforcing Flick’s confidence in using him in the role.
“It doesn’t matter which position Rapha plays, as a captain he’s shown total commitment to this team, to this club,” Flick said.
Barcelona came close to taking the lead earlier when Raphinha’s header from Xavi Espart’s cross struck the post, while Lamine Yamal’s follow-up effort was deflected wide.
Raphinha eventually broke the deadlock after Pedri sent him through on goal, allowing the Brazilian to round Simon and roll the ball into the net.
Yamal had an opportunity to double the lead before half-time, but Simon produced an important save to keep Athletic in the contest.
Barcelona continued to push for a second goal after the interval, with Gordon shooting narrowly over before Yamal struck the crossbar from the edge of the box.
Simon also denied Lopez twice before Athletic briefly threatened, with Oihan Sancet hitting the post during one of the visitors’ rare attacking moves.
Flick introduced Rodri for his Barcelona debut as the champions continued to control proceedings.
Barcelona finally doubled their advantage in the 82nd minute after an error from Athletic defender Aymeric Laporte. The defender inadvertently redirected substitute Karim Adeyemi’s cross, allowing Lopez to finish into an empty net.
Adeyemi missed an opportunity to add a third goal late in the match when Simon saved his close-range effort after Yamal picked him out at the back post.
Rodri, who was pleased with his first appearance for Barcelona, said the team’s early-season performances had given him confidence.
“Very happy to play my first game, happy with the victory, we’ve got two from two,” Rodri told DAZN.
“It’s important to keep building up rhythm and adapting to this great team. My first minutes and (I had some) good feelings.”
The result gives Barcelona another victory at the start of their title defence, while Athletic Bilbao will look to respond in their next league fix
