Raphinha and Lopez score braces as Barcelona trounce Elche 5-0

Barcelona ‌begin their La Liga title ⁠defence ⁠and bid for a third successive crown with a 5-0 ⁠victory at Elche. Spanish champions Barcelona have cruised to a 5-0 win over Elche in their La Liga opener, with Raphinha and Fermin Lopez scoring twice each and Anthony Gordon setting up two goals on his debut.

After watching Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid defeat Espanyol 2-1 on Saturday with a late winner, Barca’s display on Sunday warned the Portuguese coach that the Catalans will not relinquish the title easily. Squad, formation, unrest: Key talking points ahead of Chelsea’s new season Man Utd humiliated at Hull to open Premier League account Fans and police injured in pitch invasion during ‘high risk’ German Cup tie Arsenal rout Coventry 3-0 to begin Premier League title defence in style Karim Adeyemi also found the net on his debut as Barca made light work of a vulnerable Elche side at Martinez Valero Stadium. Hansi Flick started with several regular starters on the bench as they continue to get up to speed following the World Cup.

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