Barcelona thrash Elche 5-0 in La Liga opener with Raphinha and Lopez scoring braces

Barcelona launched their La Liga title defense with a resounding 5-0 thrashing of Elche, signaling their intent to retain the crown. New signings Raphinha and Fermin Lopez were instrumental, each netting a brace, while debutant Anthony Gordon provided two assists in an impressive cameo. The commanding win served as a clear message to rivals, particularly Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid, who had secured a victory earlier in the weekend.

Manager Hansi Flick opted to rest several key players, allowing them to regain full fitness after the World Cup. Despite this, the team displayed a sparkling performance. Raphinha opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 14th minute after being fouled in the box. Karim Adeyemi, another debutant, doubled the lead before halftime, assisted by Raphinha. The second half saw Gordon make a significant impact after coming on as a substitute, setting up Raphinha for his second goal and then assisting Lopez for Barcelona's fourth.

Youngster Xavi Espart played a role in Lopez's second goal, sealing a comfortable victory for Barcelona. While Flick's high defensive line showed occasional vulnerability, goalkeeper Joan Garcia ensured a clean sheet. Raphinha emphasized the team's control over the game's difficulty, stating, "If we start playing at the maximum level, we're likely to win." The comprehensive win sets a positive tone for Barcelona's La Liga campaign.

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whether a game is easy or hard depends on us. If we start playing at the maximum level, we’re likely to win. It was a very tough game, but we did our job.