Kathmandu— Defending Spanish champions Barcelona launched their La Liga title defence with a commanding 5-0 victory over Elche on Sunday at Martinez Valero Stadium. Raphinha and Fermin Lopez both netted braces, while Karim Adeyemi also found the net on his debut, as Barcelona sent an early signal to rivals Real Madrid – who defeated Espanyol 2-1 on Saturday – that they intend to strongly defend their crown. The match saw Anthony Gordon provide two assists after coming on as a substitute, and teenage winger Lamine Yamal make his competitive debut for Barca.

Early Goals Set the Tone

Raphinha opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 14th minute after being fouled in the box by Victor Chust. The early goal established Barcelona’s dominance and set the tone for the remainder of the match. Karim Adeyemi then doubled the lead before halftime, capitalizing on an unselfish assist from Raphinha to put Barcelona firmly in control at the break.

Second-Half Surge Seals Victory

The second half saw Barcelona further extend their advantage with a flurry of goals. Substitute Anthony Gordon quickly made his impact felt, providing assists for both of Raphinha’s second goal and Fermin Lopez’s first. Lopez then added another late in the game, completing the rout after being played through by Xavi Espart. The comfortable victory demonstrated Barcelona's attacking prowess and depth.

Debutants Impress Despite Rotation

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick opted to start with several regular starters on the bench, providing opportunities for players like Lamine Yamal and Karim Adeyemi to make their competitive debuts. While Yamal wasn’t at his best, Barcelona's overall performance remained sparkling. Gordon also made a strong impression after entering as a substitute, showcasing his playmaking ability with two assists.

Barcelona will look to continue their winning form in the coming weeks as they aim for a third successive La Liga title. Elche, meanwhile, face an uphill battle to improve their fortunes after this heavy defeat.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.