Barcelona 4-0 Athletic: exhibition, thrashing, and leaders upon returning to Spotify Camp Nou!

FC Barcelona thrashed Athletic Club in their return to Spotify Camp Nou (4-0), after 909 days of construction work on a stadium that, despite showing a much more recognizable face, is still far from completing its remodeling. The Catalan team, on an afternoon of total celebration in Catalonia, crushed a Basque team that was completely outplayed from start to finish by the Catalans.

Hansi Flick could not count on Marcus Rashford due to flu symptoms, nor on Frenkie de Jong due to suspension. However, the Catalans welcomed back Joan García and Raphinha, with the goalkeeper replacing Szczesny in goal

The main novelty in the lineup was Gerard Martín, in the center of defense, while Eric García appeared as a pivot instead of Marc Casadó. Ferran Torres, for his part, replaced Rashford on the left wing of the attack. 

After a solid first half in which the team went into halftime with a two-goal lead, Barça rounded off a comfortable rout on their return home. Athletic's defensive errors and a poor showing from Unai Simón sealed the Basques' fate, who have not managed to secure three points in Catalonia since 2001.

Barça, for their part, temporarily regain the lead in LaLiga with 31 points, the same as Real Madrid, awaiting what the 'merengues' do on Sunday in their visit to Elche. Flick's team has three consecutive league wins and 36 goals in 13 matchdays. 

Lewandowski took 4 minutes to put Barça ahead at Spotify Camp Nou

¡Lewandowski on a roll! The '9' scores Barça's 1st goal at the revamped Spotify Camp Nou

Barça completed a remarkable first half-hour against Athletic. The high press was effective, as was the defensive work of an improvised backline, with **Gerard Martín at center-back alongside Pau Cubarsí**. In the 4th minute, a steal by the '18', following an error in the Basques' build-up, led to the opening goal.

Gerard intercepted the Bilbao team's pass and the ball fell to Eric García. He passed to Robert Lewandowski, who controlled it at the edge of the box with a self-pass to set himself up for his left foot. The '9' unleashed a whip shot towards the near post that surprised Unai Simón, igniting the celebration in the stands of the revamped Barça temple.

In the 19th minute, **Fermín López** came close to extending Barça's lead, but missed in his one-on-one against Simón. **Dani Olmo** latched onto the rebound, but his shot went slightly wide, into the side netting. Four minutes later, **Ferran Torres** scored after receiving a through ball from Fermín, but the goal was disallowed for a prior offside by 'El Tiburón'.

Ferran Torres sealed the match before halftime

Ferran Torres' goal before halftime

The Athletic was only able to shake off the Barça pressure after the half-hour mark. Nico Williams, neutralized by Jules Koundé, switched flanks with Álex Berenguer. Alejandro Balde, who had some trouble with his left foot, had more difficulty controlling the Basque '10', who was booed the most throughout the afternoon at Camp Nou.Nico came close to equalizing in the 40th minute, after receiving a pass from Yuri Berchiche from the wing as a '9'. However, the winger shot into the side netting. Joan García, minutes earlier, had intervened to block a very dangerous shot from Unai Gómez.

Ernesto Valverde's men had managed to balance the game in the final stretch of the first half, but in the second and last minute added by the referee José María Sánchez Martínez, Barça extended their lead with the goal that settled the matchAfter a quick exit, Lamine Yamal surprised the Bilbao defense with an outside-of-the-left-foot pass. Ferran Torres appeared alone on the left and, although his shot hit Unai Simón, the ball ended up entering the goal with suspense. Again, the '1' of Athletic's response was weak, as the '7's shot was quite central.

Fermín López extended the lead after the break

The 2-0 was a knockout blow for the Basques, who, to make matters worse, came out of halftime asleep. **Flick brought on Ronald Araujo in place of Balde** at halftime and Barça didn't take long to extend their lead. After a chance from Lewandowski, which Unai Simón struggled to clear, **Fermín made it 3-0 in the 49th minute**.

The Huelva native took advantage of a through ball from Eric to blast past the opposing goalkeeper, in a play initiated by a steal from García himself after another poor clearance from Athletic. Six minutes later, the '16' narrowly avoided injury after receiving a criminal kick from Oihan Sancet.

The main referee Sánchez Martínez, despite having a perfect view of the play, only cautioned the Bilbao player with a yellow card. VAR, fortunately, made him review the foul, which clearly deserved a direct red for the Basque attacking midfielder.

Ernesto Valverde, with his team numerically disadvantaged, had no choice but to **take off Nico Williams** to seek a reaction that never came. **Robert Navarro** came on for the '10' in a triple substitution where **Gorka Guruzeta and Alejandro Rengo** also entered for Unai Gómez and De Galarreta

Brilliant play by Lamine to seal the rout at Camp Nou

Hansi Flick, for his part, rested Lewandowski and Fermín in the 65th minute, bringing on **Marc Casadó and 'Dro' Fernández** to reinforce the midfield. Barça came close to a fourth on a couple of occasions, creating danger down the right thanks to Lamine Yamal's runs.

In the 71st minute, the referees missed a possible handball by Yuri Berchiche. In the final stretch, **Marc Bernal and Raphinha** came on for Eric and Olmo, according to the minute plan set by the coaching staff for two players recovering from serious muscle injuries.

The Brazilian, with the first ball he touched, almost scored a screamer from outside the box, while the Camp Nou crowd gave the '11' a loud ovation. Lamine also tested Unai Simón's reflexes in the 84th minute, with a dangerous left-footed shot that the goalkeeper struggled to send to the corner

The '10' tried again at the end with another shot to the roof of the goal and, at the close of the match, **left four rivals scattered to thread a perfect pass that Ferran took advantage of to seal the rout**. Lamine couldn't extend his scoring streak, but provided a couple of assists to reach 9 on the season (team leader).

Now, Barça sets its sights on the visit to **Chelsea**, next Tuesday at 9:00 PM CEST. Hopefully, Pedri will be back in London, leaving only two players in the infirmary (**Gavi and Ter Stegen**), provided no muscular problem is detected for Balde. In La Liga, next week they host **Alavés**, on Saturday the 29th

Match Report: FC Barcelona 4-0 Athletic Club

• FC Barcelona, 4: Joan Garcia, Koundé, Cubarsí, Gerard Martín, Balde (Araujo, 46'); Eric García (Bernal, 74'), Olmo (Raphinha, 81'); Lamine Yamal, Fermín López (Casadó, 64'), Ferran Torres; Lewandowski ('Dro', 64')
• Athletic Club, 0: Unai Simón, Gorosabel, Vivian, Laporte, Yuri, De Galarreta (Reggo, 55'), Jauregizar (Vesga, 68'); Sancet, Nico Williams (Navarro, 55'), Berenguer (Adama, 68'); Unai Gómez (Guruzeta, 55').
• Goals: 1-0, Robert Lewandowski (4'); 2-0, Ferran Torres (45+3'); 3-0, Fermín López (49'); 4-0 (Ferran Torres, 90')
• Referee: José María Sánchez Martínez. Booked Ruiz de Galarreta and Andoni Gorosabel for Athletic. Sent off Oihan Sancet, after VAR review, for a nasty tackle on Fermín López. Missed a handball penalty by Yuri Berchiche in the second half.
• Stadium: Spotify Camp Nou.
• Incidents: match corresponding to matchday 13 of LaLiga EA Sports 2025/26.