Raphinha and Lopez Deliver Brace Performances in Barcelona’s Commanding 5-0 La Liga Opener Against Elche

Published On 23 Aug 202623 Aug 2026

Spanish champions Barcelona kicked off their La Liga title defense with a commanding 5-0 victory over Elche at the Martinez Valero Stadium, with Raphinha and Fermin Lopez each scoring twice and Anthony Gordon providing two assists on his debut appearance.

The resounding win sends a clear message across Spanish football, particularly to Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho, whose side narrowly defeated Espanyol 2-1 on Saturday with a late winner. Barca’s dominant display on Sunday demonstrated their intent to defend their title with authority.

Karim Adeyemi also found the net during his debut as Barcelona overpowered a struggling Elche side. Manager Hansi Flick made several squad rotation decisions, keeping key starters on the bench as players continue their fitness build-up following the World Cup. Teenage winger Lamine Yamal, a crucial member of Spain’s World Cup-winning team, started on the right flank but failed to reach his usual standards. His performance was overshadowed by Barcelona’s overall excellence.

Raphinha opened the scoring after being fouled by Victor Chust in the penalty area, converting the resulting spot-kick in the 14th minute to set Flick’s team on their path to victory.

Eric Garcia provided solid defensive coverage throughout the match, helping repel Elche’s occasional attacking threats. Midfielder Gavi attracted attention for reasons beyond his gameplay, debuting a distinctive pink haircut to honor Spain’s recent World Cup triumph.

The German forward Adeyemi, playing on the left wing, overcame a tentative start to double Barcelona’s advantage just before halftime, finishing a perfectly weighted pass from Raphinha.

In the second half, substitute Gordon showcased his creativity by setting up Raphinha for his second goal and then assisting Lopez’s fourth goal in an electrifying cameo performance.

Young midfielder Xavi Espart played a crucial role in setting up Lopez’s second goal, helping the Spanish international secure Barcelona’s comfortable victory. Lopez had faced challenges during the summer after missing Spain’s World Cup triumph due to injury.

Despite some vulnerabilities in Flick’s high defensive line, goalkeeper Joan Garcia performed admirably when called upon to preserve the clean sheet.

Raphinha spoke candidly after the match, emphasizing the team’s mindset: “Whether a game is easy or hard depends on us. If we start playing at the maximum level, we’re likely to win. It was a very tough game, but we did our job.”

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