FC Barcelona returned to the renovated Spotify Camp Nou with a commanding 4-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao.
Robert Lewandowski opened the scoring early, setting the tone for a dominant performance.
Ferran Torres doubled the lead in first-half stoppage time with a composed finish.
Barcelona’s relentless high press stifled Athletic’s attempts to build attacks, while the midfield adapted effectively despite absences, maintaining control and creating chances.
Defensively, Barcelona showed discipline with a high line, limiting Bilbao’s opportunities and securing a clean sheet.
The win keeps Barcelona firmly in the title race as they aim to close the gap on Real Madrid.
Here are the Barcelona player ratings:
Joan Garcia (7/10)
Returned to goal duties confidently, making key saves that ensured the clean sheet.
His calm distribution under pressure helped Barcelona maintain possession and build play from the back.
Jules Koundé (7/10)
Exhibited defensive solidity, with effective interceptions and clearances that neutralized Athletic’s offensive threats.
Injected energy during forward runs to aid in attacking transitions.
Gerard Martín (6.5/10)
Held his ground well despite fierce pressure from Athletic’s forwards.
Showed calmness in possession and provided a reliable presence in central defense.
Pau Cubarsí (7/10)
Displayed maturity beyond his years, effectively managing the high defensive line and helping compress space to disrupt Athletic’s rhythm.
Regularly contributed to ball circulation from defense.
Alejandro Balde (7/10)
Consistently offered attacking width and balanced his forward runs with disciplined defensive positioning.
His pace and crossing constantly threatened Athletic’s defense.
Eric Garcia (8/10)
Energetic in midfield, working tirelessly to break up play and recycle possession effectively.
His passing was accurate, though he lacked the influence of Barcelona’s usual starters.
Fermín López (8.5/10)
Provided creative impetus from midfield, linking defense and attack fluidly, leading to the third goal.
Showed good vision with several incisive passes that helped unlock Athletic’s compact setup.
Dani Olmo (7.5/10)
Controlled Barcelona’s attacking midfield with poise, creating chances and pulling strings effectively.
Contributed defensively, ensuring strong support in midfield battles.
Lamine Yamal (7.5/10)
An electric presence on the right wing, using dribbling skills and speed to disrupt the opposition.
Supplied surfaces and set up teammates with key passes and two assist.
Ferran Torres (8.5/10)
Involved in multiple vital attacking plays, showing good movement to create space.
His shot, resulting in a goal twice, highlighted his impact on the match.
Robert Lewandowski (9/10)
Man of the match performance with the opening goal in the first half.
Showed exemplary positioning, composure, and leadership throughout the game, spearheading Barcelona’s attack impeccably.
Substitute:
Ronald Araujo (7/10) – Came on to stabilize defense in the second half, efficiently cutting off threats and aiding in ball retention.
Marc Casadó (6/10)
Marc Casadó showed resilience in midfield, working hard to keep possession and provide defensive coverage.
Dro Fernández (5/10)
Dro Fernández struggled to influence the game creatively and could improve his decision-making under pressure.
His impact was minimal due to limited playing time.
Raphinha (5/10)
Raphinha struggled to impose himself early on but improved in the second half, delivering some key passes and linking the attack well.
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