La Liga giant Barcelona secured a 2-0 victory over Athletic Club on Thursday, with goals from Raphinha and Fermin Lopez enough to give the champions maximum points from their opening two LaLiga matches.
The game also marked Rodri’s debut for the club after he came on as a substitute at Camp Nou.
Athletic goalkeeper Unai Simon delivered an outstanding performance, producing several impressive saves to keep the visitors in contention despite Raphinha eventually breaking the deadlock shortly before half-time.
Barcelona created the early opportunities, with Lamine Yamal twice going close. His first attempt lacked sufficient curl, while Simon produced an excellent stop to deny his second effort.
Raphinha later saw a downward header strike the post, while Pedri had a goal ruled out after Anthony Gordon’s pass, with Yamal adjudged to have been offside in the build-up.
The hosts finally took the lead in the 37th minute. Pedri collected the ball deep before threading a precise pass between Aymeric Laporte and Yeray Alvarez, allowing Raphinha to go around Simon and calmly find the net.
Simon continued to frustrate Barcelona after the break, making another superb save from Yamal at close range. The winger then saw another long-range effort take a deflection before striking the crossbar.
Rodri was introduced in the 63rd minute to a huge reception, but Athletic soon threatened to level when Oihan Sancet’s 20-yard effort struck the base of the post.
Barcelona eventually doubled their advantage eight minutes before full-time. New signing Karim Adeyemi delivered a cross from the left, which Laporte inadvertently redirected towards his own goal. With Simon off balance, Fermin was on hand to tap the ball into an empty net.
Simon produced one more excellent save late on, getting down quickly to keep out Adeyemi’s effort at the far post, but Barcelona held on for a deserved victory.
Simon’s heroics not enough
Hansi Flick’s side produced a dominant performance, registering 22 shots and 3.9 expected goals, while Athletic managed just five attempts and 0.22 xG.
Simon was the visitors’ standout performer, finishing with eight saves and repeatedly preventing Barcelona from extending their lead. His brilliance, however, could not rescue Athletic from defeat.
The result also meant Edin Terzic became the first Athletic manager since Ernesto Valverde in 2003-04 to lose his opening two LaLiga matches in charge.
Athletic offered very little going forward, with Barcelona goalkeeper Joan Garcia not required to make a single save throughout the match.
The victory also extended Barcelona’s remarkable home run in LaLiga to 20 consecutive wins. Their last home defeat in the competition came against Valencia in May 2025.
It is Barcelona’s longest home-winning streak under one manager since the 1973-74 season, when they won 21 consecutive league matches under legendary coach Rinus Michels.