Barcelona’s new ahead Joao Felix struck twice in a 5-0 demolition of visiting Royal Antwerp of their Champions League Group H opener on the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Tuesday.
After successive group-stage eliminations, Barcelona gave debutants Antwerp a soccer masterclass, dominating possession with fast passing as Felix, Lewandowski and Gavi all scored.”Between this win and the 5-0 in opposition to Betis on Saturday I believe that is in all probability the very best quality of play we have produced since I took over,” coach Xavi Hernandez mentioned.
“That is the highway we wish to be on. The workforce’s making me proud.”Final-minute signing Felix opened the scoring with the house aspect’s first try within the eleventh minute, netting with a low strike contained in the close to put up. The Portuguese then arrange Robert Lewandowski contained in the field to double their lead eight minutes later because the Poland striker turned the third participant to attain 100 targets in European competitors after Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Raphinha helped to make it 3-0 to the five-time European champions after 22 minutes when his strike from a decent angle deflected off defender Jelle Bataille for an personal objective. Winger Arbnor Muja had an opportunity to offer the guests a glimmer of hope simply earlier than halftime however his low effort from the sting of the field was saved out by goalkeeper Marc Andre ter Stegen.
Barcelona returned after the break decided to extend the benefit of their twenty eighth Champions League group-stage marketing campaign, a contest report shared with Actual Madrid. They didn’t have to attend lengthy as Gavi made it 4-0 by smashing the ball into the roof of the online earlier than Felix added one other objective with a header to finish the rout at Barca’s momentary house whereas Camp Nou is being redeveloped.
Barca’s dominance was mirrored in 22 objective makes an attempt in comparison with solely three from Antwerp, who have been taking part in within the Champions League after profitable their home league title for the primary time in additional than 60 years final season. It’s the Belgian aspect’s fifth successive marketing campaign in Europe and their second within the continent’s main membership competitors after they featured within the European Cup within the 1957-58 season.
“Barcelona’s first three photographs heading in the right direction have been three targets for them,” mentioned Antwerp coach Mark van Bommel.”They’re on prime of the world. That is smart, they maintain taking part in, tapping, turning, that is the place we’ve got to go however we’re nonetheless a good distance from that, however that is no disgrace. That could be a very huge studying second for us.”
Within the different Group H conflict, Porto beat Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk 3-1 in Hamburg.
