Manita! Supported by the new attacking duo Lewandowski-Joao Felix, FC Barcelona started their Champions League season in perfect form by defeating Antwerp (5-0) on Tuesday at the Montjuïc Olympic Stadium.
Barcelona have found their magic again. Xavi’s men did not make much of an effort with the Belgian champions, who discovered C1 for the first time.
Deprived of the ball and retreating in defence, the Antwerp players tried to resist the Catalan combinations, before faltering in the 11th minute.
Joao Felix has already scored a goal in his first start with his new club during the card against Betis Sevilla (5-0), and he scored again, finishing a nice triangle play in the area with a cross shot from the right flank to open the score.
It also seems that this encounter against Sevilla was a catalyst for Xavi’s players, just like the Portuguese striker, who failed at Atletico and who now serves as a strike partner for the mogul Robert Lewandowski. Barcelona’s new duo bring the madness that was missing from the Catalan possession style that was at times too consistent at the start of the season.
“I think the last two games are the best we’ve had since I’ve been coach,” Xavi said after the match on Movistar+. “This is the way to go.”
Felix, who was sent deep by De Jong, showed his technical quality to prove his ability in the confrontation and adjusted a perfect cross to the far post, which Lewandowski eventually fired (19), scoring his 100th goal in European competition.
Joao Felix remains decisive
The match then turned into a demonstration, when a Belgian defender turned a harmless cross from Rafinha into his own goal against the post (22).
The Catalans could have stopped there and succeeded, but they wanted to make their first Champions League match at their temporary stadium in Montjuïc a celebration.
40,000 spectators, less than half the usual crowd at Camp Nou, currently under construction, watched their team take more risks and regain attacking momentum.
Javi returned from the locker room and recovered the ball in the area after a blocked attempt by Lewandowski and did not ask any questions, scoring the fourth goal with a powerful shot from the left side (54).
A few minutes later, as Barcelona continued to develop its game, Joao Felix again scored a double header after a cross from Rafinha (66).
“We all played very well. I’m happy with this win and I’m enjoying it,” the Portuguese loanee from Atletico Madrid explained via Movistar+. He added: “I am here to help and we are all looking forward to bringing happiness to the club and its supporters.”
The Belgians failed to break Ter Stegen’s serve to save honor, as the German player made a wonderful save against Moja, but in any case he was offside at the beginning of the match.
Entering the match after the hour mark, 16-year-old prodigy Lamine Yamal became the second-youngest player in the history of the competition behind Moukoko (Borussia Dortmund).
Robert Lewandowski, who scored the fourth match in a row, had the opportunity to score the sixth goal, but he faced French goalkeeper Jean Botez, whose ordeal ended with a score of 5-0.
Thanks to this first success in improving goal difference, Barcelona leads Group H ahead of Porto, also the winner at Shakhtar Donetsk Stadium.
The mighty Barcelona that has dominated Europe for the past decade may not be back yet. But Barcelona’s average in recent months seems a long way off.
