{"id":50094,"date":"2025-11-22T18:19:00","date_gmt":"2025-11-22T17:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/weisetech.dev\/fc-barcelona-noticias\/en\/barcelona-crushes-athletic-at-their-return-to-camp-nou-4-0_315301_102\/"},"modified":"2026-03-27T11:32:29","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T10:32:29","slug":"barcelona-crushes-athletic-at-their-return-to-camp-nou-4-0_315301_102","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fcbarcelonanoticias.com\/en\/laliga\/barcelona-crushes-athletic-at-their-return-to-camp-nou-4-0_315301_102.html","title":{"rendered":"Barcelona 4-0 Athletic: exhibition, thrashing, and leaders upon returning to Spotify Camp Nou!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bar\u00e7a experienced a total celebration on their return to Spotify Camp Nou. 909 days later, Hansi Flick’s team thrashed Athletic (4-0) to temporarily regain the lead in LaLiga<\/h2> \r\n
\r\n \r\n \r\n Calendar of FC Barcelona <\/a>\r\n<\/div>

FC Barcelona<\/strong> thrashed Athletic Club<\/strong> in their return to Spotify Camp Nou<\/strong> (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.<\/p>

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 Garc\u00eda and Raphinha, with the goalkeeper replacing Szczesny in goal<\/p>

The main novelty in the lineup was Gerard Mart\u00edn<\/a>, in the center of defense, while Eric Garc\u00eda<\/strong> appeared as a pivot instead of Marc Casad\u00f3<\/strong>. Ferran Torres<\/strong>, for his part, replaced Rashford on the left wing of the attack. <\/p>

After a solid first half in which the team went into halftime with a two-goal lead, Bar\u00e7a rounded off a comfortable rout on their return home. Athletic’s defensive errors<\/strong> and a poor showing from Unai Sim\u00f3n sealed the Basques’ fate, who have not managed to secure three points in Catalonia since 2001.<\/p>

Bar\u00e7a, for their part, temporarily regain the lead in LaLiga with 31 points<\/strong>, 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. <\/p>

Lewandowski took 4 minutes to put Bar\u00e7a ahead at Spotify Camp Nou<\/h2>
\"\u00a1Lewandowski
\u00a1Lewandowski on a roll! The ‘9’ scores Bar\u00e7a’s 1st goal at the revamped Spotify Camp Nou<\/div> <\/div> <\/div>

Bar\u00e7a completed a remarkable first half-hour against Athletic. The high press was effective, as was the defensive work of an improvised backline, with **Gerard Mart\u00edn at center-back alongside Pau Cubars\u00ed**. In the 4th minute, a steal by the ’18’, following an error in the Basques’ build-up, led to the opening goal.<\/p>

Gerard intercepted the Bilbao team’s pass<\/strong> and the ball fell to Eric Garc\u00eda. He passed to Robert Lewandowski<\/a>, 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 Sim\u00f3n, igniting the celebration in the stands of the revamped Bar\u00e7a temple.<\/p>

In the 19th minute, **Ferm\u00edn L\u00f3pez** came close to extending Bar\u00e7a’s lead, but missed in his one-on-one against Sim\u00f3n. **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 Ferm\u00edn, but the goal was disallowed for a prior offside by ‘El Tibur\u00f3n’.<\/p>

Ferran Torres sealed the match before halftime<\/h2>
\"Ferran
Ferran Torres’ goal before halftime<\/div> <\/div> <\/div>

The Athletic was only able to shake off the Bar\u00e7a pressure after the half-hour mark. Nico Williams, neutralized by Jules Kound\u00e9<\/strong>, switched flanks with \u00c1lex Berenguer. Alejandro Balde<\/strong>, 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 Garc\u00eda, minutes earlier, had intervened to block a very dangerous shot from Unai G\u00f3mez.<\/p>

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 Jos\u00e9 Mar\u00eda S\u00e1nchez Mart\u00ednez, Bar\u00e7a 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 Sim\u00f3n, 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.<\/p>

Ferm\u00edn L\u00f3pez extended the lead after the break<\/h2>

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 Bar\u00e7a didn’t take long to extend their lead. After a chance from Lewandowski, which Unai Sim\u00f3n struggled to clear, **Ferm\u00edn made it 3-0 in the 49th minute**.<\/p>

The Huelva native took advantage of a through ball from Eric <\/strong>to blast past the opposing goalkeeper, in a play initiated by a steal from Garc\u00eda himself after another poor clearance from Athletic. Six minutes later, the ’16’ narrowly avoided injury after receiving a criminal kick from Oihan Sancet<\/strong>.<\/p>

The main referee S\u00e1nchez Mart\u00ednez, despite having a perfect view of the play, only cautioned the Bilbao player with a yellow card. VAR, fortunately, made him review the foul<\/strong>, which clearly deserved a direct red for the Basque attacking midfielder.<\/p>

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 G\u00f3mez and De Galarreta<\/p>

Brilliant play by Lamine to seal the rout at Camp Nou<\/h2>

Hansi Flick, for his part, rested Lewandowski and Ferm\u00edn in the 65th minute, bringing on **Marc Casad\u00f3 and ‘Dro’ Fern\u00e1ndez** to reinforce the midfield. Bar\u00e7a came close to a fourth on a couple of occasions, creating danger down the right thanks to Lamine Yamal’s runs.<\/p>

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.<\/p>

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 Sim\u00f3n’s reflexes in the 84th minute, with a dangerous left-footed shot that the goalkeeper struggled to send to the corner<\/p>

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).<\/p>

Now, Bar\u00e7a sets its sights on the visit to **Chelsea**, next Tuesday at 9:00 PM CEST. Hopefully, Pedri<\/a> 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 **Alav\u00e9s**, on Saturday the 29th<\/p>

Match Report: FC Barcelona 4-0 Athletic Club<\/h2>