Kenya Sport

Raphinha Shines as Barcelona Crush Feyenoord 5-1 in Champions League

Barcelona Dominates Feyenoord with Raphinha's Brace

Raphinha kept up his impressive form this season, scoring twice as Barcelona delivered a commanding 5-1 victory over Feyenoord in their Champions League clash. Former Arsenal and Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus also found the net, marking his first goal for Barcelona late in the match.

Match Highlights

  • Raphinha opened the scoring in the third minute with a composed finish after beating two defenders.
  • This marked his seventh goal in five games, having scored in every match so far this season.
  • Karim Adeyemi doubled the lead with a stunning curling shot from 20 yards, celebrated with a back-flip.
  • In the 57th minute, Raphinha scored again, firing across the goalkeeper to secure his eighth goal of the campaign and third brace in five games.
  • Lamine Yamal added a fourth from a free-kick in the 77th minute.
  • Feyenoord’s substitute Sem Steijn pulled one back in the 82nd minute, but Gabriel Jesus sealed the win with a header late on.

Team Performances

  • Barcelona maintained dominant possession at 71.6%, outshooting Feyenoord 24 to 4.
  • They recorded 9 shots on target compared to Feyenoord’s 2, with 46 touches inside the opposition box.
  • Feyenoord managed only 28.4% possession and struggled to create chances despite some moments of pressure.

Player Ratings (Top Barcelona Players)

  • Raphinha: 8.44
  • Gabriel Jesus: 8.30
  • Lamine Yamal: 8.23
  • Karim Adeyemi: 7.72
  • Alexander Gordon: 7.68

Managerial Notes

  • Hansi Flick continues to impress with a high win rate and goal-scoring record since taking charge of Barcelona in 2024.
  • Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Feyenoord’s manager and former Barcelona Champions League winner, faces challenges after a tough European record.

Champions League Table Snapshot After Matchday 1

  • Paris Saint-Germain: 1 game, 1 win, 6 goals for, 1 against, 3 points
  • Barcelona: 1 game, 1 win, 5 goals for, 1 against, 3 points
  • Sporting CP: 1 game, 1 win, 3 goals for, 1 against, 3 points
  • Stuttgart: 1 game, 1 win, 3 goals for, 1 against, 3 points
  • Liverpool: 1 game, 1 win, 2 goals for, 1 against, 3 points
  • Arsenal: 1 game, 1 win, 1 goal for, 0 against, 3 points
  • Feyenoord: 1 game, 1 loss, 1 goal for, 5 against, 0 points

Additional Stats

  • Barcelona completed 794 passes with 94% accuracy; Feyenoord had 308 passes with 83% accuracy.
  • Barcelona made 17 tackles winning 82.4% of them, while Feyenoord won 54.2% of their 24 tackles.
  • Feyenoord was caught offside 8 times; Barcelona only 2.

Historical Context

  • No Dutch team has ever won an away European match at Barcelona (7 losses, 3 draws).
  • This was Barcelona’s 21st opening home game in European Cup/Champions League history, with 18 wins.
  • Feyenoord's recent European campaigns have been challenging, losing 11 of 12 previous Champions League matches under Van Bronckhorst.
  • Barcelona is currently on a 15-game streak without a clean sheet in the competition.
  • Raphinha is one of the most prolific players since 2024-25, second only to Harry Kane in goal involvements.

Team Lineups Overview

  • Goalkeeper: Joan García
  • Defenders: Koundé, Pau Cubarsí, Andreas Christensen, João Cancelo
  • Midfielders: Dani Olmo, Rodri, Pedri
  • Forwards: Lamine Yamal, Raphinha (captain), Karim Adeyemi
  • Goalkeeper: Thomas Ernst
  • Defenders: Mika Mármol, Tatsuhiro Watanabe, Jurrien St. Juste, Gabriel Read
  • Midfielders: Gino Zechiël, Christophe Vanhoutte, Anis Hadj Moussa, Lucas Valente (captain), Javi López
  • Forward: Nacho Ferri

Substitutions were made throughout the second half by both teams as the match progressed.

Watch highlights and full coverage of Wednesday’s Champions League fixtures on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport.

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