In a stunning display of football prowess, Barcelona’s newly acquired forward, Joao Felix, showcased his talent by netting two goals in a resounding 5-0 victory against Royal Antwerp. This commanding performance marked Barcelona’s Champions League Group H opener at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in Barcelona, Spain.
After experiencing successive group-stage eliminations in previous seasons, Barcelona left no room for doubt and gave a football masterclass to debutants Antwerp. The Catalan giants dominated possession with rapid passing and clinical finishing, with Felix, Lewandowski, and Gavi all contributing to the scoreboard.
Head coach Xavi Hernandez expressed his delight, saying, “Between this win and the 5-0 against Betis on Saturday, I think this is probably the best quality of play we’ve produced since I took over. This is the road we want to be on. The team’s making me proud.”
Joao Felix wasted no time in opening the scoring, finding the back of the net with a low strike inside the near post in the 11th minute. The Portuguese sensation continued to make his presence felt by setting up Robert Lewandowski, who slotted home the second goal just eight minutes later. Lewandowski’s goal made him the third player in history to score 100 goals in European competitions, joining the elite company of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Raphinha extended Barcelona’s lead to 3-0 after 22 minutes when his shot from a tight angle took a deflection off defender Jelle Bataille, resulting in an own goal. Antwerp’s winger, Arbnor Muja, had a chance to narrow the gap just before halftime, but his low effort from the edge of the box was thwarted by Barcelona’s goalkeeper, Marc Andre ter Stegen.
Barcelona returned for the second half with an eagerness to further extend their advantage in their 28th Champions League group-stage campaign, a record shared with arch-rivals Real Madrid. Their determination bore fruit as Gavi hammered the ball into the roof of the net, making it 4-0. Joao Felix added another goal with a header, completing the emphatic 5-0 victory. Notably, Barcelona played this match at their temporary home while Camp Nou undergoes redevelopment.
The stark contrast in dominance was reflected in the statistics, with Barcelona registering 22 goal attempts compared to Antwerp’s three. For Antwerp, this marks their fifth consecutive campaign in European competitions and their second appearance in the Champions League, with their last participation dating back to the 1957-58 season.
Antwerp’s coach, Mark van Bommel, acknowledged Barcelona’s supremacy, stating, “(Barcelona’s) first three shots on target were three goals for them. They are on top of the world. That makes sense, they keep playing, tapping, turning; that’s where we have to go, but we’re still a long way from that. But that’s no shame. That is a very big learning moment for us.”
In the other Group H clash, Porto secured a 3-1 victory over Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk in Hamburg, setting the stage for an intriguing Champions League campaign.
Barcelona’s dominant performance in their opening fixture sends a strong message to their competitors in Group H, reaffirming their aspirations for success in this prestigious tournament. Joao Felix’s outstanding contributions certainly made this victory a memorable one for Barcelona fans worldwide.
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