Barcelona opened their UEFA Champions League campaign in devastating fashion on Wednesday night, tearing Feyenoord apart 5-1 at a rain-soaked Spotify Camp Nou in a performance that announced Hansi Flick’s side as genuine contenders for the trophy this season.
The story of the night, though, belonged to Raphinha. Just a day after being controversially left off the 30-man Ballon d’Or shortlist, the Brazilian delivered the loudest possible reply, scoring twice and terrorising Feyenoord’s defence from start to finish.
It took him barely three minutes to make his point. Racing onto a pass from Lamine Yamal, Raphinha danced past two sliding defenders on the slick surface and finished with ice-cold composure to give Barcelona the perfect start.
The Catalans did not let up. In the 22nd minute, summer signing Karim Adeyemi doubled the lead with a stunning right-footed strike from distance that flew past his fellow German international Tjark Ernst in the Feyenoord goal.
By half-time, Barcelona were completely in control of a Feyenoord side managed by former Barça player Giovanni van Bronckhorst, who was making an emotional return to the club where he once played.
The second half continued the rout. Pedri, pulling the strings in midfield all evening, sliced open the Feyenoord back line with a defence-splitting pass that Raphinha finished calmly to complete his brace and take his season tally to seven goals in just five games.
Then came a moment of pure magic from Lamine Yamal, who curled a sensational free kick through the Feyenoord wall and into the net to make it 4-0, continuing his own brilliant start to the European campaign.
Feyenoord finally found a way through late on, substitutes Goncalo Borges and Sem Steijn combining for a back-post finish that gave the travelling fans something to cheer after two earlier goals had been ruled out for offside.
It proved to be nothing more than a consolation. Barcelona had the final word when substitute Gabriel Jesus, on for his full Champions League debut, glanced home a precise Yamal cross to make it 5-1 and put a fitting seal on a near-perfect night.
Speaking to the press afterward, Raphinha refused to be drawn into discussing the Ballon d’Or controversy, insisting his focus was entirely on Barcelona’s form. He explained that the club owed their supporters a big performance and credited the atmosphere at Camp Nou for lifting the team throughout. He also revealed a touching detail from the match, saying he noticed Yamal drifting out of the game at one stage and personally encouraged the young forward, predicting he would find the net before his free kick actually flew in.
This result extends Barcelona’s flawless start to the 2026-27 season, having already won all four of their opening La Liga fixtures, including a thumping 5-0 win over Valencia. With Raphinha in this kind of form, Yamal growing in confidence with every performance, and new faces like Adeyemi and Gabriel Jesus already contributing, Flick’s side looks every bit as dangerous as the team that dominated Spain last season.
Barcelona will look to carry this momentum into their next Champions League fixture, while Raphinha continues to let his football do the talking after one of the most eye-catching individual snubs of the season.
Man of the Match: Raphinha
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