Barcelona cruised to a relatively comfortable win over Feyenoord in their first UEFA Champions League clash last night, bringing joy to the Spotify Camp Nou and ensuring a perfect start to their UCL campaign.
Raphinha opened the scoring early and Karim Adeyemi soon made it 2-0 with a wonder finish. The captain then returned to the scoresheet after the break and put the game virtually to bed.
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Lamine Yamal then went on to add the icing on the cake with a brilliant free-kick strike to make it 4-0 to Barcelona and to net his first UCL goal of the new season. Feyenoord pulled one back, but Gabriel Jesus scored his first Barcelona goal to make it five again.
Barça Universal brings you three takeaways from Barcelona 5-1 Feyenoord.
The Barcelona goalkeeper was barely tested in the first-half barring a few chances the visitors created late in the segment. Held his own and came good under pressure barring some unnecessary errors.
Not much he could have done to stop Feyenoord’s eventual strike.
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Cancelo earned his first start of the new season under Hansi Flick last night and did well defensively covering for Xavi Espart. Given more attacking freedom, he ventured into the final third often and even had a couple of goal attempts.
The player also earned the assist for Karim Adeyemi’s goal although it was a moment of brilliance that saw the opportunity converted.
Partnering Cubarsi at the back, the Danish star was reassured and did not look to be in trouble at any point in the game.
The veteran, in fact, kept Cubarsi reassured and was impeccable with his distribution and positioning, thereby taking a significant load off his partner’s shoulders.
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Cubarsi was Barcelona’s reference point at the back once more and did well to shoulder the responsibility thrust on his shoulders.
While Feyenoord did not have too many threatening attacking moves on the night, Cubarsi was central to all of Barcelona’s buildup sequences and did well to move the ball swiftly into forward channels.
While Kounde has been largely disappointing and subpar in most of his recent outings, the Frenchman did a much better job last night against Feyenoord.
Starting at right-back, the defender was solid at the back and useful in the final third, and his performance came as a ray of hope at a time when Kounde’s performances have been otherwise poor. Was caught napping late in the game, however, in the opposition’s goal.
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In complete control. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
In the starting lineup for the second consecutive game, Rodri’s brilliance was once again on display in the defensive midfield.
While the player did not stand out for any flashy moves, his presence was clear by the very fact that Pedri was playing in a very advanced position, and his defensive recoveries were key in winning the ball swiftly when out of possession.
Pedri: 9
Pedri was once again at his imperial best against Feyenoord, well and truly unlocked by Rodri’s presence in the deep midfield.
The Canary Islander constantly looked for the defence-splitting pass and was at the heart of every Barcelona attack. Eventually, he was rewarded for his persistence with a wonderful assist for Raphinha’s second goal on the night.
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Given Fermin Lopez’s red-hot form this season, Olmo had massive shoes to fill coming into the starting lineup against Feyenoord.
While the Spaniard did not bring the same direct threat to goal as his compatriot, he did bring a sense of control into the middle of the park. His impact, however, was far less than what one would have expected on the big stage.
Karim Adeyemi: 8.5
Making his first UEFA Champions League appearance for Barcelona, Adeyemi was inspired in the final third and brought a very different profile to what Gordon provides.
The winger added a direct threat to goal from his long-range shots, and even scored his first official UCL goal for the club with a stunner from distance. Beyond that contribution, he was decent with his distribution and understanding with other forwards.
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Raphinha: 9.5
El Capitan strikes again. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
The captain stepped up on the big stage once again for Barcelona and showed the world why the club does not feel the lack of a natural striker.
It took Raphinha only three minutes to open the scoring against Feyenoord with an ice-cold finish as he turned away from two defenders and found the back of the net with conviction.
The Brazilian returned to the scoresheet in the second half off a stunning Pedri assist and did not struggle one bit to beat the goalkeeper. Big game player.
Lamine Yamal: 9.5
Yamal grew into the night. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
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Lamine Yamal was relatively silent on Wednesday, but that does not go to say that he had a poor game. The youngster was a constant threat on the right and even added to the buildup time and time again.
However, he did not have too many direct attempts on goal and was promptly closed down by the Feyenoord defence whenever on the ball. As is always the case with him, however, the magic did eventually arrive as he scored a direct free-kick to bury the result.
Earned a late assist for Gabriel Jesus’ first Barcelona goal with a brilliant curled cross.
Gabriel Jesus: 8
Came on and scored with almost his first touch of the ball, blindly heading the ball off Yamal’s assist and finding the back of the net.
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