FC Barcelona 5-0 Young Boys: Like clockwork

FC Barcelona have bounced back from defeat in Monaco on the opening day of their Champions League campaign by steamrolling their way past Young Boys of Bern to the tune of a 5-0 win.

Already leading after just eight minutes, victory was never really in doubt against the side that’s currently second from bottom in the Swiss League. Other than a few isolated moments of danger, the visitors were utterly overwhelmed by the Catalans, who we all knew were superior on paper, but who needed to demonstrate that superiority on the field of play.

And they did exactly that. And more...

Frenkie back

Aside from the goals, two of the biggest cheers of the night were two incoming substitutes. In his longest run-out yet since returning to the club, Ansu Fati displayed several reminders of his pre-injury brilliance. And after his long absence from activity of 162 days, Culers finally got to enjoy the heart-warming sight of Frenkie de Jong back out on the pitch.

Not only that, the night brought a debut for yet another young La Masia graduate, 17-year-old centre back Andrés Cuenca.

Hot start

The gulf in class was apparent from the off, with Barça dancing their way into danger positions and not surprisingly taking an early lead. Two lightning quick passes from Raphinha and Lamine Yamal in the build-up and Robert Lewandowski was as reliable as ever at popping the ball where it needed to go.

The game was just eight minutes old and Barça could already relax. But not too much. Almost getting caught napping when Ebrima Colley squandered the first chance for the visitors, it was time to move things up a gear.

As the ball pinballed its way around the Swiss area following a corner, Raphinha capped a superlative first half by thundering the ball into the back of the net.

Shortly after, Iñigo Martinez was heading in his first ever goal for Barça and his team’s third of the night

Too strong

Goal number four wasn’t long in coming. Iñigo’s diving header to deliver the ball was the highlight and that man Lewnadowski was once again instinctively in the right place at the right time to finish it off.

It wasn’t entirely a monologue, Joël Monteiro did hit the crossbar for Young Boys at one point, but in all reality it was now just a question of how much Barça were going to win this one by. And with this new format, goal difference could prove very important for deciding places in January.

In that regard, there was a further boost for that difference when Mohamed Ali Camara turned Alejandro Balde’s cross into his own net, and also when a late consolation goal for Monteiro was denied by the offside flag.

All in all, a glorious might of football at the Estadi Olimpic, which will also host Barça’s next game in the competition. That’s on October 23 and the guests… Bayern Munich.