Raphinha and Lopez score braces as Barcelona trounce Elche 5-0 | Football News
Barcelona Dominates Elche in La Liga Opener
Published on August 23, 2026
Barcelona commenced their title defense in La Liga with an emphatic 5-0 victory over Elche at the Martínez Valero Stadium. Raphinha and Fermin Lopez each scored twice, while Anthony Gordon contributed significantly with two assists in his debut match for the club.
The victory comes on the heels of Real Madrid’s 2-1 win against Espanyol, which took place on Saturday under the guidance of new head coach Jose Mourinho. Barcelona’s strong performance serves as a clear message that they intend to retain their championship.
Karim Adeyemi also marked his debut with a goal as Barcelona capitalized on a vulnerable Elche side. Head coach Hansi Flick opted to start several regulars on the bench, allowing players to regain form following their World Cup commitments.
Lamine Yamal, a prominent member of Spain’s World Cup-winning squad, started on the right wing but did not exhibit his usual prowess. However, the rest of the team displayed a solid performance.
Raphinha opened the scoring by converting a penalty in the 14th minute after being fouled by Elche’s Victor Chust. Eric Garcia led a steadfast defense, while Gavi was notable in midfield, albeit more for his eye-catching pink hairstyle in honor of Spain’s recent victory than for his performance.
Adeyemi, initially shaky on the left wing, found his rhythm and doubled Barcelona’s lead before halftime, capitalizing on an assist from Raphinha.
In the second half, Gordon, who had just entered the match, set up Raphinha for his second goal before assisting Lopez in scoring Barcelona’s fourth. Lopez, who missed Spain’s World Cup triumph due to injury, capped off the scoring with his second goal of the match.
Despite a few vulnerabilities in Barcelona’s high defensive line, goalkeeper Joan Garcia remained composed, ensuring a clean sheet.
After the match, Raphinha commented on the team’s approach, stating, “Whether a game is easy or hard depends on us. If we start playing at the maximum level, we’re likely to win. It was a very tough game, but we did our job.”
