19 September, BARCELONA, SPAIN – In Tuesday’s Champions League Group H start at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, Barcelona’s new forward Joao Felix scored twice as they beat Royal Antwerp 5-0.
After losing in the group stage three times in a row, Barça showed newcomers Antwerp how to play football by controlling the ball with quick passes and getting goals from Felix, Lewandowski, and Gavi.
“Between this win and the 5-0 win against Betis on Saturday, I think this is probably the best quality of play we’ve had since I took over,” said boss Xavi Hernandez.
“We want to be on this road. I’m happy with how my team is doing.”
Felix, who joined the home team at the last minute, scored the first goal in the 11th minute with a low shot inside the near post.
The Portuguese then set up Robert Lewandowski inside the box to double their lead eight minutes later. With that goal, the Poland striker joined Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as the only players to score 100 goals in European competition.
Raphinha’s shot from a tight angle in the 22nd minute went in off Jelle Bataille for an own goal, making it 3-0 for the five-time European winners.
Just before halftime, winger Arbnor Muja had a chance to give the away team some hope, but goalie Marc Andre ter Stegen stopped his low shot from the edge of the box.
Barca came back from the break ready to get a bigger lead in their 28th Champions League group-stage game. This is a record that they share with Real Madrid.
They didn’t have to wait long because Gavi made it 4-0 by smashing the ball into the top of the net. Felix added another goal with a header to finish the rout at Barca’s temporary home while Camp Nou is being fixed up.
Antwerp, who were playing in the Champions League after winning their local league title for the first time in more than 60 years last season, only had three shots on goal, while Barca had 22.
It’s the fifth season in a row that the Belgian team has played in Europe. It’s also the second time they’ve played in Europe’s top club competition, after playing in the European Cup in 1957-58.
Antwerp’s boss, Mark van Bommel, said, “Barcelona’s first three shots on goal led to three goals for them.”
“They have the best of everything. That makes sense, since they keep playing, tapping, and turning. That’s where we need to go, but we’re still a long way off. That’s a very important lesson for us to learn.”
In the other Group H match, Porto beat Shakhtar Donetsk 3-1 in Hamburg. Shakhtar Donetsk was the winner of Ukraine.
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