He made the Spiderman gesture in the 0-1 penalty. Not to claim the arrival of ‘The Spider’, Julián Álvarez. Raphinha, that Brazilian who feels Barça and who has an undeniable influence over his teammates, recognized by Flick, also thought of his son, a fan of the mentioned superhero, on his first great night as captain. His goal was the start of a true feast that ended with a flashy 0-5 against Elche.
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Julián is not here. But Barça has found in its leader that false nine. Its spider-man, who scored the 0-1 penalty he himself caused, hugged Adeyemi after assisting him in the 0-2 and took care of the third thanks to an electric and supportive Gordon, who also gifted the fourth to Fermín. And, since it was about scoring two by two, Fermín once again weaved inside the area to make it 0-5. Welcome to the vertical, vertigo Barça. Welcome to Raphinha’s Barça. Who knows. Maybe he doesn’t lack a nine.
The Brazilian scored two goals and assisted Adeyemi, starter on
the left side, in the 0-2
The first victory of Raphinha’s Barcelona started with the Brazilian leading a very experimental team. Deciding to leave Balde in Barcelona and with João Cancelo having only two training sessions under his belt, Hansi Flick, faithful to his experiments and instinct, initially placed Xavi Espart on the left back, an unprecedented position for the youth player, who usually plays well on the right or as an interior midfielder. He moved in it like a fish in water in a team that, at first, showed that, as is logical in the first days of competition, the physical tone was not yet at its highest point. Even less so with seven world champions called up and honored at Martínez Valero – because the eighth, Rodri, stayed in Barcelona -.
Initially, Flick placed the world champions with fewer minutes. Joan Garcia, unused in the World Cup, occupied the goal; Eric Garcia, a youth player who this season will have a frequent role at right back, started after having played minutes in the final; and Gavi, starter in Spain’s first match against Cape Verde, completed the midfield alongside Bernal, with Fermín as attacking midfielder.
The World Cup exception was the sixth youth player in Flick’s first starting eleven: Lamine Yamal, on the right, with Adeyemi on the left. The new Barça signing did not look very comfortable. He lost balls and was late in recovery. He was the one who best illustrated the Blaugrana sluggishness, imprecise and not fully controlling the game when he did not have the ball.
Gordon ‘gifted’ two goals, one to Raphinha and another to an unleashed Fermín, who scored his first double
The team, little by little, had to learn to manage pressure after losing the ball, one of the team’s hallmarks and a non-negotiable aspect in Flick’s philosophy, restless on the bench. All against an Elche that already had one more league match and in a Martínez Valero that showed its best face, pressing on the right wing and with the three central defenders attentive to cutting – especially Fede Redondo – when Barça wanted to advance.
Bernal and Gavi, not used to playing together, regretted some losses and Fermín appeared little. Raphinha, restless, waited for his opportunity. That was the script until Lamine broke free from the central defenders, caught a ball from Eric and shot with the tip of his left foot to try to beat Dituro at the near post. The ball went too high, to the left of the crossbar.
But it was the start of a phase of Blaugrana control that served to score. Thus came the penalty on Raphinha. Xavi Espart recovered the ball after losing it, Fermín activated the attack and found Raphinha, well infiltrated among the defenders. The Brazilian entered the area, stopped, dribbled and Víctor Chust fell into the trap and fouled him. Raphinha himself, indisputable from the penalty spot, scored the 0-1. He celebrated with the spider gesture.
The recipe was served. And although Barça relaxed, succumbing to Sangaré’s runs, who surpassed Gerard Martín and Christensen, Eric Garcia appeared. Another imperial captain in cutting. The one from Martorell also stole the ball from Fer Niño when the striker was about to challenge Joan Garcia.
It was not the only chance for the Ilicitanos. A great pass from Villar that Ali Houary wasted at the penalty spot scared the Blaugranas. But Flick was even more scared when Gavi left with discomfort in his right knee and asked for a substitution. Pedri came in.
Vertigo took over Barça. And from vertigo Adeyemi redeemed himself. A header recovery by Bernal and a combination of Lamine and Raphinha ended up at the feet of the fast winger, who placed the 0-2. He may not have much finesse, but his speed is non-negotiable.
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Raphinha’s Barça kept galloping. Flick changed an angry Lamine. An active and attentive Olmo came in. Gordon’s entry for Adeyemi also worked with the Brazilian. The fast Englishman, launched down the left wing, gave Raphinha time to orient himself again and score the 0-3.
It was not the only double of the night. A deep pass from Pedri and another great run into space by Gordon, who got into the area and, very supportive, decided to leave it on a platter for Fermín, serving him the 0-4. Second assist from Gordon, who had come into the match very switched on.
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It had to end among youth players. While Lamine left the field and Olmo tested himself, Xavi Espart maneuvered for Fermín, who again beat Redondo’s mark and finished with quality in front of Dituro.
Waiting for the nine, the shots and goals of ‘o capitão’ Raphinha are good. The Barça fans recognized it, sending him off with shouts of “Raphinha, captain”.
Elche, 0- FC Barcelona, 5
0 – Elche: Dituro; Sangaré, Affengruber, Redondo (Bigas, min. 80), Chust, Valera; Morente (Buonanotte, min. 63), Aguado (Neto, min. 63), Villar, Ali Houary (Cepeda, min. 63) and Fer Niño (Ponce, min. 68).
5 – Barcelona: Joan Garcia; Eric Garcia, Christensen, Gerard Martín, Espart; Bernal (Koundé, min. 79), Gavi (Pedri, min. 44), Fermín; Lamine Yamal (Olmo, min. 64), Adeyemi (Gordon, min. 64) and Raphinha (Cancelo, min. 79).
Goals: 0-1, min. 14: Raphinha, penalty. 0-2, min. 47+: Adeyemi. 0-3, min. 66: Raphinha. 0-4, min. 71: Fermín. 0-5, min. 79: Fermín.
Referee: Alejandro Quintero (Andalusian Committee). He showed a yellow card to Ali Houary, from Elche.
Incidents: Match corresponding to the second round of LaLiga EA Sports played at Martínez Valero stadium before 30,704 spectators.
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