A week behind many of the other teams in La Liga, Barcelona began their 2026/27 campaign at Elche’s Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero and ran away with a big win.
Let’s take a look at three talking points from Sunday night’s game…
Great performance from Xavi Espart
In what was a much-changed starting XI from Hansi Flick, it was good to see players like Xavi Espart given a chance to stake a claim.
The 19-year-old certainly did his chances no harm with a solid and effective performance throughout.
His tigerishness in the tackle helped Barca
to win back possession, leading to Raphinha’s penalty, while his positional sense and confidence in his passing game were a real feature.
There will be tougher games, of course, though the youngster did everything asked of him.
Is Gavi still too gung-ho?
In the first half before his injury, there wasn’t too much in the way of midfield control from Gavi.
His pass completion of 78.6% was one of the lowest in the team, with the midfielder consistently, and unusually, losing possession.
Whether one could argue that in these first games of the campaign, players who are easing back into form need to be cut some slack is a moot point.
Arguably, when the first game of the season comes around, everyone has to be ‘at it’ from the first whistle, and perhaps Gavi takes it a little too literally.
That over-exuberance has seen him injured before, and he clearly hasn’t learned his lesson.
Great cameo from Gordon
Two assists within six minutes of coming on as a substitute isn’t a bad way to announce yourself on your official debut.
Anthony Gordon couldn’t have made more of an impact if he tried, and his direct running in the 25 minutes or so he had against a tiring Elche side gave culers a taste of what’s to come.
Those supporters wondering about the logic of bringing the former Newcastle man to the club were handed their answer emphatically.
Having such strength in depth in that position was something missing for the most part last season, and if Gordon continues in the same vein, he’ll quickly become a fan favourite.
