FC Barcelona 4-0 Athletic Club: Triumphant return
Today, the day Barça finally returned to Spotify Camp Nou, was always going to be a special day. But there was one important thing missing to cap a wonderful day – a win.
The players didn’t disappoint in that department. Being back on the world’s greatest football stage seemed to give them that little bit extra as they delivered one of their most convincing performances of the season, confidently brushing aside Athletic Club to the tune of a 3-0 win.
"It's something else to be playing here" said Robert Lewandowski immediately after the game. Too right it is!
The three points send Barça back to the top of the league table, on goal difference ahead of Real Madrid, whio have a chance to re-establish their lead when they face Elche tomorrow.
Quick start
After all the excitement of the pre-game build-up and the thrill of seeing the ball back in motion on the hallowed turf of Spotify Camp Nou, the fans didn’t have long to be treated to the first goal in the new-look stadium.
Athletic made a right mess of getting the ball out of their area and it was Lewandowski himself who was ready to punish them for it. While the visitors faltered, the Pole went straight for the jugular, tucking the ball in the bottom left corner and the Liga champions were a goal to the good inside the first five minutes.
Two ahead
Barça and the fans were still in party mode and for the first half hour they were the only team in the game.
Lamine Yamal was supplying balls everywhere, but mainly to Ferran Torres, who missed one fine chance, had another saved and was called offside for another. But the duo finally made their break moments before half-time when Yamal’s succulent long ball was converted by Torres, goalkeeper Unai Simon’s hand only serving to help the ball across the line.
Barça had doubled their lead just when Athletic had started coming into the game, with Joan García no longer a spectator in his comeback game as both Unai Gomez and Nico Williams started causing all kinds of bother.
But just when a equaliser was looking a very real possibility, Barça had widened the cushion to two. Cue The Tyets and their half-time show, with a very happy set of fans to play to.
Goal and red card
They were even happier once the game restarted. Within moments, it was 3-0. A flurry of quick passes on the edge of the area left the Basque defence befuddled, capped by Eric García’s flick through to Fermin López, and the youngster was able to celebrate his first ever goal at Spotify Camp Nou.
If Athletic already had it bad, they had it worse when they were reduced to ten men. Sancet’s tackle from behind on Fermín was as reckless and it was pointless. Out came the red card and if it wasn’t already, that was the game well and truly over.
There wasn’t much Athletic could do but try to salvage a bit of honour, but Barça were in no mood for charity. Torres continued his lively afternoon by hitting the bar (from lying down!), Dani Olmo also came close, and perhaps the biggest ovation of the day was reserved for Raphinha when he stepped onto the pitch, fresh back from injury and ready to add even more panache to the buzzing blaugrana frontline.
Happy days!
With the bilbainos now resigned to defeat, Barça pushed on in search of more goals to treat the fans. Chances came and chances went before the Lamine-Torres double act did it again. Again it was hard to say what was best, the assist or the finish, but what mattered most was another chance for the chorus of Caminem Lluny y Doctor Prats to play on the brand new PA system to herald the fourth goal of the night.
Cue the Barça anthem. Cue Freddie and Montserrat, lights, firework and celebrations. Barça are back at Spotify Camp Nou. The stadium is looking fantastic and the football is looking even better!