João Félix and João Cancelo scored after making their first begins for Barcelona in a 5-0 rout of Real Betis within the Spanish league on Saturday. The pair of Portugal internationals made their debuts final spherical for Barcelona as substitutes two days after they joined the defending champions on mortgage simply hours earlier than the summer time switch market closed.
Félix opened the scoring and Cancelo capped the most important win up to now this season for the defending champions. “I would underscore that I see both (Félix and Cancelo) as very happy to be here and motivated to help the team,” Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández stated. “They give us more variety and improve the team thanks to their individual talent, and today the team was brilliant.”
Félix scored within the twenty fifth minute after which cleverly let a cross run between his legs within the space that Robert Lewandowski fired dwelling to double the lead within the thirty second.
Ferran Torres, who additionally made his first begin of the season, added a 3rd purpose within the 62nd when he grew to become the primary Barcelona participant to attain immediately from a free kick since Lionel Messi did so towards Valencia in May 2021, in accordance with OPTA statistics.
After substitute Raphinha struck from simply exterior the world within the 66th, Cancelo topped the victory within the 81st with an excellent solo effort after he reduce twice to ditch his marker and beat goalkeeper Rui Silva from an angle.
Barcelona moved prime of the league. It’s one level forward of Real Madrid which performs Real Sociedad on Sunday.
Barcelona hosts Antwerp on Tuesday to start out its Champions League group marketing campaign, whereas Atletico Madrid is at Lazio the identical day.
HAPPY TO BE HERE
Félix moved to Barcelona in a bid to relaunch a promising profession that had stalled after the 23-year-old fell out with Atletico coach Diego Simeone and did not impress on a mortgage deal at Chelsea final season.
His purpose got here after Cancelo recovered the ball and Oriol Romeu met his run into the field with a lobbed cross. Félix missed on his first effort to strike the ball, however he was fast sufficient to dribble round Silva and thread in a shot from a slender angle.
“I am working to play at my best,” Félix stated. “My teammates are very good, the atmosphere is very positive, and they make it easy to play with them. The change of team has been good for me.”
THE SHARK STRIKES
Torres, who needed to struggle for enjoying time final season and was dropped from Spain’s nationwide crew after the World Cup, has loved fairly a turnaround .
The ahead leads Barcelona, together with Lewandowksi, with three objectives this season and scored twice for Spain on Tuesday in his return to the nationwide crew.
He despatched his free kick curling across the fringe of the defensive wall and past Silva’s attain.
The crowd at Barcelona’s Olympic Stadium chanted “Tiburón!” — Spanish for “shark” — after his nice purpose.
“I had meant to shoot over the barrier, but when things are going the right way, the ball goes in,” Torres stated about this strike. “I am mentally strong and have lots of confidence, which you have to have at a club like Barcelona.”
ATLETICO’S ‘POOREST GAME’
Valencia routed Atletico 3-0 at dwelling in what Simeone stated was the worst efficiency for his crew since he grew to become its coach greater than a decade in the past.
Striker Hugo Duro tapped in a cross to the close to submit within the fifth minute and added a second purpose on the break within the thirty fourth. Javi Guerra rounded off the victory within the 54th.
“Everyone saw it. Valencia was better than we were,” Simeone stated. “We performed the poorest recreation since I’ve been with the membership.”
It was Atletico’s first lack of the season in 4 video games performed. Its scheduled match within the earlier spherical towards Sevilla was postponed due to heavy rain.
WINS FOR BILBAO AND MALLORCA
Athletic Bilbao beat Cadiz 3-0 with second-half objectives from Gorka Guruzeta, Asier Villalibre and Iñaki Williams.
Bilbao dominated all through and solely the woodwork stopped Oihan Sancet from scoring twice within the first half.
Mallorca striker Vedat Muriqi scored with 5 minutes left to beat Celta Vigo 1-0 on the street and provides Javier Aguirre’s crew its first victory of the season.
Celta has misplaced all three of its dwelling video games since Rafa Benítez grew to become its coach this low season.
Source web site: www.hindustantimes.com
