The gamers of Barcelona applaud the followers at full-time following the LaLiga EA Sports activities match between FC Barcelona and Cadiz CF at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on August 20, 2023 in Barcelona, Spain.
| Photograph Credit score: Getty Photographs
Barcelona discovered a approach to win late and assure a housewarming celebration at its non permanent new residence for the season on Sunday.
With late targets from Pedri and Ferran Torres, Barcelona beat Cadiz 2-0 within the first official match on the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Montjuic, the place the workforce will play whereas the Camp Nou undergoes an in depth makeover. Pedri opened the scoring within the 82nd minute and Torres scored in stoppage time.
Barcelona secured its first win of the season regardless of the absence of coach Xavi and ahead Raphinha due to pink playing cards within the 0-0 opening draw at Getafe final weekend. Xavi was handed a two-game suspension for excessively complaining to the referee and Raphinha was despatched off for elbowing an opponent.
Xavi watched from the stands on the Olympic stadium and stated he was pleased with the workforce’s new residence.
“I actually preferred how the followers supported the workforce the entire time. That is very optimistic for the membership,” he stated. “The gang responded properly. It was a great begin and they’ll hold supporting us much more.”
Barcelona, the defending champions, struggled in assault till Pedri discovered the online with a left-footed contact following a pleasant give-and-go play with midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, the workforce’s predominant signing this season. Torres sealed the victory with a objective from inside the realm after a late breakaway. Robert Lewandowski had a objective disallowed for offside.
The win got here earlier than a crowd of 39,603 folks on the Lluis Companys, which was the principle stadium for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and may maintain 49,000 folks — in comparison with the 99,000-capacity Camp Nou, Europe’s largest soccer stadium. The Camp Nou is present process a long-delayed overhaul to enhance its services and add much more seats.
“It was good to return to our new stadium,” Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen stated. “This win will make issues simpler for us going ahead.”
Cadiz, which barely averted relegation final season, opened with a 1-0 win over Alaves final weekend.
ATLETICO MADRID HELD
Atletico Madrid was held to a 0-0 draw at Actual Betis in a match with few important scoring alternatives within the warmth of Seville.
Betis appeared the extra harmful workforce however was not in a position to break the impasse on the Benito Villamarín Stadium.
“We have been higher within the first half however within the second it turned tougher due to the warmth,” Betis coach Manuel Pellegrini stated. “However you may by no means say {that a} draw in opposition to Atletico is a foul consequence.”
Each groups have been making an attempt to win their second consecutive match to begin the season.
“We did not create a whole lot of hazard within the first half however may have carried out higher in entrance of the objective after halftime,” Atletico coach Diego Simeone stated.
Betis has received solely certainly one of its final 22 league matches in opposition to Atletico since Simeone’s arrival.
Additionally Sunday, Getafe remained winless after shedding 3-0 at Girona, which had two targets from Uruguay striker Cristhian Stuani within the second half after one from Venezuelan midfielder Yangel Herrera within the first.
Madrid received 3-1 at Almería on Saturday for its second consecutive win. It leads the league alongside Valencia, which beat Las Palmas 1-0 on Friday.