The Catalan giants eased to a solid victory over their Basque visitors in their first game of the season at the partially-rebuilt Camp Nou, with new arrival Rodri coming on for his Barca debut. Raphinha and Fermin Lopez goals helped Spanish champions Barcelona beat Athletic Bilbao 2-0 on Thursday in La Liga to continue their perfect start to the season. Raphinha rounded the goalkeeper and slid home in the 37th minute to give Barca the lead, and Lopez netted after 82 minutes to secure the points, with the Catalans missing several chances for more goals and twice hitting the woodwork.
However, Raphinha netted twice from his striker’s role against Elche and was on target again for Barca at Camp Nou, giving them a deserved lead at half-time. The Brazilian nodded against the post from Xavi Espart’s cross midway through the first half and Lamine Yamal’s follow-up effort was deflected wide, with Barca controlling the game.
Eventually, they took the lead when Pedri slipped Raphinha through on goal, with the Brazilian rounding Unai Simon and rolling home. Gordon arrowed a shot narrowly over early in the second half as Barcelona probed for a second goal. Yamal, still not at his best level since suffering a hamstring injury in April, hit the crossbar with an effort from the edge of the box. Simon saved twice from Lopez, who netted a brace in the opener.
Teenage star Yamal should have doubled Barca’s lead before the interval but Simon made a fine save to deny him, while Gordon complained that he would have had an open goal if the Spain international had knocked the ball across to him.
