Spanish champions Barcelona cruised to a 5-0 win over Elche on Sunday in their La Liga opener with Raphinha and Fermin Lopez scoring twice each and Anthony Gordon setting up two goals on his debut. Earlier, Atletico Madrid salvaged a 2-2 draw against Villarreal despite having defender Robin Le Normand sent off. After watching Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid defeat Espanyol 2-1 on Saturday with a late winner, Barcelona’s display warned the Portuguese coach that the Catalans will not relinquish the title easily.
It give us the confidence we need for the next matches. In the second half, former Newcastle United winger Gordon, on as a substitute, teed up Raphinha for his second and then supplied Lopez for Barca’s fourth in an electric and impressive cameo. In the capital, Giuliano Simeone grabbed Atletico a draw after Gerard Moreno and Georges Mikautadze’s penalties put Villarreal in front following Marc Pubill’s 59th-minute opener.
“We are really happy that we won 5-0, three points, this is a fantastic start for us.
Atletico coach Diego Simeone brought Julian Alvarez on as a second-half substitute to a chorus of boos from home supporters.
“Five goals against this team is good, Elche play fantastic football,” Flick told reporters.
Atletico took the lead just before the hour mark when Spain defender Pubill scored from long range, curling powerfully into the top corner.
