Three days after losing their unbeaten run in La Liga after being thrashed 4-2 by Osasuna, Barcelona got things back on track on Tuesday with a resounding 5-0 win over Swiss side Young Boys on Matchday 2 of the Champions League.
Robert Lewandowski (8, 51), Raphinha (34), Inigo Martinez (37), and a goal against his own goal by Mohamed Camara (81) sealed a match that went into the break with a partial score of 3-0, a performance that lived up to the demands of FC Barcelona in this competition, after reaching the quarter-finals last season.
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The season started with a 2-1 defeat in Monaco and Hansi Flick’s men took this encounter against a weaker opponent seriously, without being overconfident or underestimating their opponents.
The difference in quality between the two teams was reflected in the suffocating dominance that Barca imposed from the very first moments on the pitch at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium.
Lamine Yamal, who scored the only goal for the Blaugrana in the visit to the Principality during the first matchday, sought the goal from the first minutes (3), with a powerful shot that was too centered and was easily stopped by Marvin Keller.
But the resistance would not last much longer from inside the area, Brazilian captain Raphinha managed to place a pass to the far post, where ‘Lewy’ appeared to open the scoring.
With his double, the Polish striker has scored nine goals in ten games between La Liga and the Champions League, figures that match his renowned goal-scoring prowess and which underpin the Blaugrana club’s excellent results this season.
Watching the match from the stands was his compatriot and friend Wojciech Szczesny, who, according to several media outlets, is reportedly finalizing his move to FC Barcelona to replace Marc-Andre ter Stegen in goal for a long time.
Lewandowski’s goal did not calm Barca’s persistent attack, which left the match practically decided before the break, first Raphinha and just three minutes later Martinez, made it 3-0, which Lewandowski extended just six minutes into the second half.
With a largely favorable result, Flick began to make rotations, removing key players such as Pedri, Pau Cubarsi, Lewandowski, or Yamal, and giving minutes to players such as Ansu Fatu or Frenkie de Jong, who returned to a standing ovation after his long absence due to injury.
The changes did not diminish the dominance, although Young Boys came close to scoring with a ball hitting the crossbar from Joel Monteiro (66) and the rebound going wide from Jaouen Hadjam (67).
Finally, the fifth goal of the match fell again on the same side, when Mohamed Camara deflected into the back of his net a ball that Alejandro Balde had guided into the area.
With a clear advantage on the scoreboard, FC Barcelona went into the break but showed their power again after the restart, thanks again to Lewandowski, who has scored eight goals and provided two assists in 10 games so far this season, being one of the most lively players in the Blaugrana team.
In addition to clearing up any doubts following the defeats against Osasuna and Monaco, the rout serves to gain confidence ahead of the next continental duel against the fearsome Bayern Munich, on October 23.
