Barcelona made it two wins from two in La Liga with a 2-0 victory over Athletic Club, and the result again underlined how quickly Hansi Flick's side are finding momentum. Raphinha scored in the 37th minute, Fermin Lopez added the second late on, and the win gave Barcelona another clean, controlled step forward after the opening victory against Elche.
The opening goal came from Raphinha, who finished in the 37th minute to claim his third goal of the season. It was the kind of moment that sums up a good start to a campaign: efficient, calm and built on taking chances when they arrive. Barcelona did not need to overwhelm Athletic Club for long spells. They simply needed to stay composed and make their pressure count.
Rodri makes his Barcelona debut
One of the notable moments in the match came just past the hour mark, when Rodri made his Barcelona debut as a substitute for Raphinha. The £65m signing from Manchester City has arrived with clear expectations, and this was the first chance to see him in a Barcelona shirt in competitive action.
After the restart, Athletic Club did have a moment when Anthony Gordon fired over the bar from inside the area, but Barcelona remained in control. Unai Simon was kept busy, while Barcelona's structure allowed them to manage the game without losing grip of it.
Fermin Lopez seals the points
With eight minutes to go, Fermin Lopez scored Barcelona's second goal to settle the contest. By that stage, the result had become less about tension and more about confirmation that Barcelona had done exactly what was required.
For Barcelona, the important detail is simple: the points are banked, the start is perfect, and the early standings picture remains positive. A 2-0 win, a clean sheet and goals from Raphinha and Fermin Lopez give Hansi Flick's side exactly the sort of platform they wanted after the opening win against Elche. The next test will show whether this early rhythm can be sustained, but for now Barcelona have made the right kind of start.
