Raphinha scored twice as Barcelona opened their Champions League campaign with a commanding 5-1 victory over Feyenoord on Wednesday.
The Brazilian winger continued his impressive goalscoring run after moving into a more central attacking role. He has now scored eight goals in five matches this season.
Barcelona took control after just three minutes. Raphinha broke into the box, cut inside two defenders and calmly finished on a rain-soaked pitch.
Karim Adeyemi doubled the lead with a superb long-range strike. The forward curled the ball beyond Feyenoord goalkeeper Tjark Ernst to put Barcelona firmly in control.
Raphinha added his second after the break. Pedri found him with a perfectly weighted through-ball, and the Brazilian made no mistake with the finish.
Lamine Yamal then extended Barcelona’s advantage with a free-kick that squeezed through the Feyenoord wall. The goal marked his first direct free-kick for the Catalan club.
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Feyenoord briefly threatened a comeback when Sem Steijn pulled one goal back. The Dutch side had earlier seen another effort ruled out for offside following a VAR review.
Barcelona restored their four-goal advantage late in the match. Substitute Gabriel Jesus, who joined from Arsenal during the summer, headed in Yamal’s cross for his first goal for the club.
The result extends Barcelona’s perfect start to the season. Hansi Flick’s side have won all five matches across competitions and scored five goals in four of those games.
Flick praised his team’s performance after the match, saying Barcelona controlled the game and played as a united team.
Barcelona last won the Champions League in 2015. Their emphatic opening victory will strengthen hopes of another deep European run this season.
