Barcelona launch LaLiga title defence with five-star Elche demolition

Aug 23 : Barcelona began their LaLiga title defence and bid for a third successive crown with a 5-0 victory at Elche on Sunday as Raphinha and Fermin Lopez scored twice each.

Captain Raphinha set the champions on their way in the 14th minute, coolly tucking a penalty just inside the right post after he was brought down in the box by Elche defender Victor Chust.

Karim Adeyemi, signed from Borussia Dortmund in the close season, marked his debut with Barcelona's second in first-half stoppage time after the visitors' pressing game clicked into gear.

Barca won the ball back in midfield, Lamine Yamal quickly fed Raphinha and the Brazilian slipped a clever pass through for Adeyemi, who burst in from the left, beat the offside trap and finished clinically past the goalkeeper.

If Elche had hoped for mercy after the break, Anthony Gordon had other ideas.

The substitute made an instant impact, surging down the left in the 67th minute before laying the ball perfectly into the path of Raphinha, who lashed home his second to make it 3-0.

Four minutes later Gordon was at it again, racing from inside Barcelona's half to collect a long ball in full stride before charging into the area and squaring for Fermin, who tapped into an empty net.

Fermin then added the fifth goal in the 79th minute, controlling the ball on the edge of the box, swivelling past his marker and driving inside before smashing an unstoppable shot beyond the helpless keeper.

The only blemish on an otherwise breezy opening night for Barcelona came just before halftime, when Gavi limped off complaining of pain in his right knee. The club have yet to issue an official update on the midfielder's condition.