Barcelona beat Athletic Club 2-0 at the Spotify Camp Nou on Thursday, with goals from Raphinha and Fermín securing a second consecutive win for Hansi Flick's side in LaLiga's 2026-27 season.
Raphinha opened the scoring in the 37th minute, beating the goalkeeper before finishing calmly to make it 1-0. Fermín added the second in the 81st minute, pouncing on a mistake by Athletic defender Laporte and tapping the ball in from close range.
Barcelona are the reigning two-time LaLiga champions. The result was their outstanding fixture from the opening round of the season, played after a 5-0 win away at Elche in their previous league outing.
How the game unfolded
Barcelona dominated large stretches of the match without always finding a clear route to goal. Pedri thought he had scored in the 28th minute, but the goal was ruled out for offside against Lamine Yamal at the start of the move.
Raphinha struck the post in the 24th minute before opening the scoring 13 minutes later. Goalkeeper Unai Simón kept Athletic in the game before that, saving well to send a Yamal effort behind for a corner in the 19th minute.
Simón produced another important save just before the break, using his shoulder to deny Yamal in a one-on-one chance in the 40th minute, and Barcelona went in at half-time leading 1-0.
The Spanish forward hit the woodwork again early in the second half, in the 53rd minute, while Simón also kept out a volleyed effort from Gordon in the 60th minute to keep Athletic within a goal.
Rodri's Barcelona debut
Barcelona's new signing Rodri made his first official appearance for the club in the 61st minute, coming on to an ovation from the Camp Nou crowd.
Barcelona continued to control the ball through the closing stages without rushing their attacks. Athletic came closest to equalising in the 74th minute, when a shot from Sancet struck the post and stayed out. Fermín's goal seven minutes later settled the contest at 2-0.
Athletic Club's difficult start
Athletic Club arrived at the Camp Nou on the back of a 3-1 home defeat to Sevilla, one of the results of the previous round. Barcelona started with Joan García in goal behind a back four of Eric García, Cubarsí, Gerard Martín and Xavi Espart, with Bernal, Pedri and Fermín in midfield and Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Gordon forming the attack.
Athletic Club lined up with Unai Simón in goal, a back four of Rincón, Yeray, Laporte and Johaneko, a midfield of Jauregizar, Canales, Iñaki Williams, Sancet and Nico Williams, and Guruzeta leading the line.
Barcelona's Champions League opponents in the league phase were also confirmed on the day of the match, ahead of the club's LaLiga fixture against Athletic Club.
Venue and broadcast
The match was played at the Spotify Camp Nou, which has capacity for more than 105,000 spectators. It was broadcast on the DSports signal.
Barcelona had gone into the game as clear favourites with bookmakers, with odds ranging from 1.30 to 1.34 for a home win compared with odds of 8.60 to 9.75 for an Athletic Club victory across bookmakers including Betsson, Betano, Bet365, 1XBet, Caliente and Doradobet.
