Barcelona turned their opening Champions League match against Feyenoord into a victory, with Raphinha scoring the third goal and effectively putting the game to bed at Camp Nou. The Catalans confirmed their superiority on the pitch and took their first three points at the start of their European campaign.
A strong start for the Catalans
The team led by Hansi Flick went into this encounter with high expectations after a positive start in La Liga. The win over Feyenoord serves as confirmation of the good form Barcelona are carrying into the European stage as well.
The objective of taking all three points immediately in the opening match was achieved, while Raphinha’s third goal gave the game an almost definitive direction.
Raphinha finishes the match
The moment that sealed the contest came with Barcelona’s third goal, scored by Raphinha. The Brazilian finished off another move by the Catalans and gave the team the calm it needed to manage the advantage through to the end.
Barcelona had shown strong signs in the opening weeks of the season, especially in attack, and that was reflected again in the match against the Dutch side.
Feyenoord held back by away statistics
Opposite them was a Feyenoord side that had started the domestic season well, but one that also came in with a poor record in European away matches. The Dutch team had not won any of their last 11 away games in continental competitions.
At Camp Nou, that trend was not reversed, as Barcelona managed to exploit their superiority and control the tempo of the match.
A clash with symbolic weight
The match also had a special element because of the presence on Feyenoord’s bench of Giovanni van Bronckhorst, the former Barcelona player and captain. That added an emotional dimension to the meeting, even if on the pitch the difference was reflected in the result.
At the same time, another Champions League match was being played between Stuttgart and Viking, with the Germans considered the favorites on paper for the start of the league phase.
With this win, Barcelona begin their European journey on the right foot and send a clear signal about their ambitions in the Champions League.
Raphinha’s goal for 3-0 was the blow that practically ended any discussion over the outcome of the match.