Raphinha shines as Barcelona thrash Feyenoord 5-1 in Champions League opener

Barcelona made a flying start to their Champions League campaign on Wednesday, thrashing Feyenoord 5-1 in a dominant display led by Raphinha.

The Brazilian forward continued his impressive goalscoring run by scoring twice as Hansi Flick’s side took control of the match against their Dutch opponents.

Karim Adeyemi added another goal with a superb long-range effort, while Lamine Yamal also found the net with a well-taken free-kick to put Barcelona firmly in command.

Feyenoord managed to reduce the deficit through Sem Steijn, but Barcelona quickly restored their advantage.

Substitute Gabriel Jesus completed the scoring with Barcelona’s fifth goal, marking his first strike for the club since leaving Arsenal in the summer.

Winger Raphinha has been playing up front after Barca sold Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres, and has rapidly taken to his new position, plundering eight goals in five games.

“Playing in front of our fans we always have to show perfect football, or nearly perfect, and with the support of the fans it’s a lot easier,” Barca captain Raphinha told Movistar.

“I think we were very good, from the start of the game, controlling the game and with the chances we had we were able to score and it gives us a lot of confidence.”

The Brazil international said that despite the club’s excellent start, there was still a long way to go.

“In a season as long as this, there are many ups and downs,” added Raphinha.

“Starting the season like this obviously gives us a lot of confidence and we have to continue like this.

“We have to hope the downs are as small as possible.”

Flick made five changes to the team that thrashed Valencia on Sunday in La Liga, although he maintained star attackers Yamal and Raphinha, as well as new arrival Rodri in his line-up.

– Barca storm out of blocks –
After days of baking weather in Barcelona, a storm broke ahead of the game, lashing rain down on the Camp Nou pitch and sending supporters scurrying for shelter.

By the time it stopped pouring early in the first half, Barcelona were already ahead.

Raphinha netted the opener after three minutes.

The Brazilian was razor sharp to break into the box and cut inside, sending two defenders sliding the wrong way on the slick turf, before slotting home.

Adeyemi, in for Anthony Gordon, doubled Barcelona’s lead with a superb strike from outside the area, bent beyond Feyenoord goalkeeper Tjark Ernst.

Anis Hadj Moussa threatened for Feyenoord at the other end but Joan Garcia pushed out his shot at the near post.

Barca kept generating openings and defender Joao Cancelo came close to adding a third when he skinned Givairo Read and crashed a shot against the outside of the post.

Raphinha netted again before the hour mark for Barca’s third, running on to Pedri’s perfect through-ball and slotting home.

The Dutch side thought they had pulled one back straight away when Nacho Ferri slotted home but it was disallowed after a VAR review for offside in the build-up.

Yamal bagged Barca’s fourth, direct from a free-kick which crept through the wall, his first such strike for the club.

Feyenoord sent on Shaqueel van Persie, the 19-year-old son of former Dutch international Robin van Persie, to try and salvage some pride.

Steijn eventually pulled one back for the visitors when he escaped Jules Kounde and Goncalo Borges picked him out with a dangerous low cross to the back post.

It was the only blot on Barca’s copy book on an otherwise strong start to their league phase, rounded off by Jesus’s glancing header from Yamal’s cross for the fifth.

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