Barcelona also wins second La Liga match

FC Barcelona continued their perfect start to the La Liga season with a 2-1 victory over Athletic Club at the Camp Nou on Saturday evening. The match was marked by a resilient performance from the Catalan side, with Robert Lewandowski proving to be the difference-maker once again. The evening began with a tense atmosphere, as Barcelona faced ongoing challenges registering new players due to financial constraints. This issue kept new signing Dani Olmo out of the lineup for the second consecutive match, forcing him to watch from the stands. In his absence, coach Hansi Flick once again relied on youth, with 17-year-old Marc Bernal starting in midfield alongside fellow teenagers Pau Cubarsí and Lamine Yamal.

The game got off to a slow start, with neither side managing to create clear chances in the opening stages. However, Barcelona broke the deadlock midway through the first half. A free kick led to a loose ball that fell to Yamal, whose shot deflected off Athletic defender Iñigo Lekue and into the net, giving Barça a 1-0 lead.

Athletic club's quick response

Athletic Club responded quickly and nearly equalized immediately after the restart, but Alex Berenguer was just inches away from converting a cross from Nico Williams. The visitors eventually drew level on the stroke of halftime. A VAR review awarded Athletic a penalty after Cubarsí fouled Berenguer inside the box. Oihan Sancet stepped up and calmly slotted the ball past Marc-André ter Stegen to make it 1-1.

Lewandowski's late winner

The second half saw Barcelona push for a winning goal. Lewandowski came close twice, first hitting the post with a header from a Raphinha free kick, and then being denied by a sharp save from Athletic goalkeeper Alex Padilla. However, the Polish striker would not be denied a third time. With 15 minutes remaining, a cross from Pedri was only partially cleared by Padilla, allowing Lewandowski to pounce and score the decisive goal, securing a 2-1 victory for Barcelona.

Barcelona’s strong start continues

With this win, Barcelona moves up to second place in the La Liga standings, continuing their unbeaten run. Athletic Club, on the other hand, remains in 15th place, still searching for consistency early in the season. Hansi Flick's side may still be facing challenges off the pitch, but on it, they are showing the resilience and quality needed to compete at the top level. As long as Lewandowski continues to deliver, Barcelona's title ambitions remain firmly on track.