Barcelona celebrated their return to Camp Nou with an emphatic win over 10-man Athletic Bilbao this afternoon.
After a wait of 909 days to play at their revamped residence, Barca wasted little time in settling in to their environment with first-half targets from Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres placing them in management.
Fermin Lopez added a 3rd shortly after the break and Athletic’s meek problem was ended utterly when Oihan Sancet was sent-off after 53 minutes for a poor sort out on Fermin.
The excellent Torres supplied the gloss with a late fourth as Barca moved level on points with leaders Real Madrid, who play Elche tomorrow.
Barcelona onslaught begins early
Regardless of lacking the likes of Pedri and Gavi via harm, and the suspended Frenkie de Jong, Barca got here out firing and Lewandowski had a shot contained in the opening seconds.
The veteran Pole was inflicting all types of points for the Athletic backline and solely a superb block by Aymeric Laporte prevented him changing Torres’ centre three minutes later.
He wasn’t to be denied a 3rd time. Athletic made a large number of clearing the ball and Lewandowski shifted the ball on to his left foot and fired into the nook, though Athletic goalkeeper Unai Simon will likely be dissatisfied after getting a superb hand to the shot.
The aim prodded Athletic into motion and Alex Berenguer must have finished higher than mis-control on the far submit.
Nico Williams – a long-time Barca goal – then threatened with a curling effort that drifted huge of the returning Joan Garcia’s upright.
Simon redeemed himself partially with a effective block to disclaim Fermin with Dani Olmo firing the rebound huge after 21 minutes.
Torres then noticed an effort dominated out for offside earlier than Unai Gomez threatened on the different finish, firstly with a shot that was effectively saved by Garcia and secondly with an effort that flew over the bar.
A Williams aim would have brought about a lot consternation and it practically arrived after 42 minutes however the Spain winger flashed a shot inches huge as a substitute of on track.
His worldwide team-mate Torres confirmed him the way it must be finished in first-half stoppage time. The previous Manchester Metropolis man latched on to a elegant cross from Lamine Yamal and slotted beneath Simon.
Dismal Athletic crumble in second half
Former Barca boss Ernesto Valverde would have been a busy man on the break however no matter he stated had zero impact as Barca successfully ended the competition inside 4 minutes of the restart, Fermin firing residence after being performed in by Eric Garcia.
Sancet’s frustration received the higher of him and he was rightly dismissed for a poor sort out.
Yamal and Torres nearly conjured up a fourth, the latter firing straight at Simon earlier than hitting the rebound towards the bar, though the offside flag had already gone up.
Substitute Raphinha nearly marked his return to full health with a aim just for his shot to graze the submit however Barca had been to not be denied one other, Torres including his second after one other elegant piece of ability from the irrepressible Yamal.
