Barcelona coasted to victory of their opening Champions League sport with a cushty win over Royal Antwerp.
Xavi’s aspect had been three targets forward after simply 23 minutes because of strikes from Joao Felix and Robert Lewandowski, plus an personal aim from Jelle Bataille.
Gavi added a fourth earlier than Felix obtained his second after the break to present Barca’s marketing campaign the right begin.
The La Liga champions had been eradicated within the group stage of their previous two Champions League campaigns.
Antwerp, who gained the Belgian title final season to achieve the Champions League for the primary time, had been unable to match the house aspect’s passing and ending.
Barcelona haven’t gained the Champions League since 2015 however right here produced soccer harking back to these glory days, albeit in opposition to restricted opponents.
The opening aim definitely reminded of the instances when Xavi roamed the Barca midfield with Mark van Bommel as his accompanying enforcer. For this sport, they had been as a substitute in opposing dugouts – Van Bommel as Antwerp supervisor, Xavi answerable for Barca.
In 2023, it’s Ilkay Gundogan who Barca look to as their midfield creator. On 11 minutes, he exchanged passes with Lewandowski earlier than sliding in Felix, the previous Chelsea loanee firing dwelling on the close to put up.
The lead was doubled eight minutes later following an outstanding raking ball by Frenkie de Jong to Felix within the space on the left. The Portuguese ahead, on mortgage from Atletico Madrid, clipped in a cross for Lewandowski to volley dwelling from six yards.
Antwerp had been unlucky to concede a 3rd as their Champions League debut become a nightmare. Alejandro Balde’s cross clipped off right-back Bataille and spiralled agonisingly over goalkeeper Jean Butez and in off the far put up.
Barca had been passing the ball round their midfield at will and seemingly scoring after they wished, Gavi smashing into the roof of the web after 54 minutes for his first Champions League aim.
The scoring was appropriately concluded by the electrical Felix, though his second was all concerning the left-footed cross by Raphinha.
The previous Leeds man reduce on the precise wing earlier than sending over an undefendable ball which Felix nodded dwelling on the far put up.
Participant of the match
João FélixJoão Félix
Royal Antwerp
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Squad quantity18Participant titleJanssen
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Squad quantity23Participant titleAlderweireld
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Squad quantity8Participant titleYusuf
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Squad quantity2Participant titleDe Laet
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Squad quantity44Participant titleCoulibaly
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Squad quantity10Participant titleBalikwisha
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Squad quantity27Participant titleKeita
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Squad quantity1Participant titleButez
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Squad quantity5Participant titleWijndal
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Squad quantity11Participant titleMuja
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Squad quantity9Participant titleIlenikhena
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Squad quantity24Participant titleEkkelenkamp
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Squad quantity55Participant titleValencia
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Squad quantity34Participant titleBataille
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Squad quantity48Participant titleVermeeren
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Squad quantity7Participant titleKerk
Line-ups
Barcelona
Formation 4-3-3
- 1ter Stegen
- 2CanceloSubstituted forRobertoat 76′minutes
- 23Koundé
- 15Christensen
- 3Balde
- 22Gündogan
- 21F de JongSubstituted forRomeuat 58′minutes
- 6GaviBooked at 36minsSubstituted forLópezat 58′minutes
- 11RaphinhaSubstituted forF Torresat 68′minutes
- 9Lewandowski
- 14João FélixSubstituted forYamalat 68′minutes
Substitutes
- 5MartÃnez
- 7F Torres
- 13Peña Sotorres
- 17Alonso
- 18Romeu
- 20Roberto
- 26Astralaga
- 27Yamal
- 30Casadó
- 32López
Royal Antwerp
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Butez
- 34BatailleSubstituted forKerkat 74′minutes
- 23Alderweireld
- 44Coulibaly
- 5Wijndal
- 48Vermeeren
- 27Keita
- 11MujaSubstituted forValenciaat 83′minutes
- 24EkkelenkampSubstituted forYusufat 61′minutes
- 10BalikwishaSubstituted forDe Laetat 61′minutes
- 18JanssenSubstituted forIlenikhenaat 60′minutes
Substitutes
- 2De Laet
- 7Kerk
- 8Yusuf
- 9Ilenikhena
- 19Ejuke
- 26De Wolf
- 33Van Den Bosch
- 55Valencia
- 91Lammens
- Referee:
- Radu Marian Petrescu
Dwell Textual content
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Match ends, Barcelona 5, Royal Antwerp 0.
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Second Half ends, Barcelona 5, Royal Antwerp 0.
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Try missed. Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona) left footed shot from the centre of the field is simply too excessive. Assisted by Jules Koundé.
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Try saved. Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona) proper footed shot from the precise aspect of the field is saved within the centre of the aim. Assisted by Ferran Torres.
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Foul by Ilkay Gündogan (Barcelona).
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Mandela Keita (Royal Antwerp) wins a free kick within the defensive half.
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Try missed. George Ilenikhena (Royal Antwerp) left footed shot from the centre of the field misses to the left. Assisted by Ritchie De Laet with a cross.
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Foul by Oriol Romeu (Barcelona).
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Ritchie De Laet (Royal Antwerp) wins a free kick on the precise wing.
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Foul by FermÃn López (Barcelona).
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George Ilenikhena (Royal Antwerp) wins a free kick within the defensive half.
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Nook, Barcelona. Conceded by Owen Wijndal.
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Substitution, Royal Antwerp. Anthony Valencia replaces Arbnor Muja.
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Delay over. They’re able to proceed.
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Delay in match due to an damage Soumaïla Coulibaly (Royal Antwerp).
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Nook, Barcelona. Conceded by Toby Alderweireld.
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Try saved. Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona) proper footed shot from the centre of the field is saved within the centre of the aim.
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Try blocked. Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona) proper footed shot from exterior the field is blocked.
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Try blocked. Andreas Christensen (Barcelona) left footed shot from the centre of the field is blocked.
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Nook, Barcelona. Conceded by George Ilenikhena.
