Raphinha Scores Twice as Barcelona Thump Elche 5-0 in LaLiga Opener

Raphinha stars as Barcelona secured a 5-0 victory against Elche, featuring a brace from the Brazilian and two assists from debutant Anthony Gordon.

Barcelona commenced their pursuit of a third consecutive LaLiga title with a 5-0 victory against Elche at the Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero. Raphinha secured a brace, scoring a 14th-minute penalty and a second-half strike, while Fermín López added goals in the 71st minute and shortly thereafter. New signing Karim Adeyemi also found the net on his league debut, following his transfer from Borussia Dortmund. England international Anthony Gordon marked his first appearance for the club by providing two assists after entering the match as a substitute.

The scoring opened when Fermín López delivered a first-time through ball to Raphinha, who was fouled in the area by Víctor Chust. The Brazilian winger converted the resulting penalty past goalkeeper Matías Dituro to give Hansi Flick’s side the lead. Before the halftime whistle, Gavi sustained an injury and was replaced by Pedri, though the midfielder was later seen on the pitch following the conclusion of the match.

Adeyemi and Raphinha Extend Lead

Barcelona doubled their advantage after the interval when Raphinha turned provider, crossing into the middle for Karim Adeyemi. The Germany international controlled the ball with one touch before slotting a calm finish past Dituro. The visitors effectively secured the result midway through the second half when Anthony Gordon made his debut. With nearly his first touch, the former Newcastle winger found Raphinha in space, allowing the forward to score his second goal of the evening and Barcelona's third.

Elche, who finished 15th in LaLiga last season, struggled to test Joan Garcia in the Barcelona goal. Their most significant scoring opportunity came via Facundo Buonanotte; the Brighton loanee struck the woodwork in the hosts' closest attempt to breaking the clean sheet. Despite this pressure, the reigning champions remained in control, having successfully registered four new players prior to the fixture to avoid previous registration issues.

Fermín López Completes the Rout

Anthony Gordon recorded his second assist in the 71st minute. Rather than shooting, the winger squared the ball to Fermín López, who tapped in for the team's fourth goal. Moments later, López scored the final goal of the match following a pass from Xavi Espart. With his back to the goal, López spun defender Federico Redondo and fired a shot into the bottom corner to finalize the 5-0 scoreline.

Manager Hansi Flick opted not to include new signing Rodri in the matchday squad for this away fixture. Flick, who previously led the team to two consecutive titles over arch-rivals Real Madrid, also addressed the situation regarding Julián Álvarez, stating he was not worried about the player. The victory places Barcelona at the top of the early standings as they begin their 2026-27 campaign, with the Champions League draw scheduled to follow shortly. The club's dominant performance featured clinical finishing and a successful integration of summer arrivals into the starting lineup.