Three talking points from Barcelona 5-0 Young Boys | UEFA Champions League

It took just eight minutes for Barcelona to take the lead against Young Boys at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys last night and what followed was absolute carnage as the Catalans secured their first win of the season in the UEFA Champions League.

The Catalans who opened the scoring through Robert Lewandowski saw their lead doubled by the captain Raphinha before Inigo Martinez slotted a third goal before half-time.

Chances flew in left right and centre after the resumption of play as well and it was the Polish striker who struck in the 51st minute to make it 4-0.

The fifth and final goal on the night came as an unfortunate own goal, but one that was always coming given the pressure on the opposition defence.

Barça Universal brings you three talking points from the team’s first win of the season in the UEFA Champions League.

Welcome to the Champions League

Barcelona’s first Matchday in the UEFA Champions League against AS Monaco did not quite go to plan with an Eric Garcia red card sending Hansi Flick’s plans for a toss.

Last night, they took to the field for the first time in the competition since the painful defeat in France and announced their arrival in the grand style that is expected of them.

As one of Europe’s most in-form sides at the moment, a lot is expected of Barcelona in the premier competition and the 5-0 win against Young Boys serves as the first glimpse of their prowess in the event given the circumstances on match day 1.

Playing at Montjuic, the team did away with the home curse of the Champions League dishing out a display outlined by authority, control and discipline.

At no point in the night did the Catalans look out of control as they riled up attack after attack on a helpless Swiss defence and should in reality have registered a larger scoreline.

Now on three points in the league stage, Barcelona stare towards a more formidable opponent in Bayern Munich on Matchday 3. Last night’s performance, however, is a testament that they are motivated to push through in Europe.

Inigo Martinez’s day out

Inigo Martinez has been absolutely spectacular for Barcelona in defence this season.

Stepping up to the team’s defensive crisis after injuries to Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen, the Basque star has led from the front and established himself as a non-negotiable starter under Hansi Flick.

No one, in that sense, deserved a goal more than him last night and it will only fitting that he got his flowers with a display that was not only defensively solid but also decisive in the final third.

Martinez scored Barcelona’s third goal on the night from a perfect set-piece routine, rising the highest in the box and getting onto the end of Pedri’s lofted pass. It was his first goal of the season and the passion showed in his celebration.

That, however, was not his only contribution on the night as he registered a stunning headed assist for Robert Lewandowski’s second goal of the night in the 51st minute.

Apart from his two-goal contributions, the Spaniard recorded two key passes, 104 touches of 94% pass accuracy with two defensive actions.

Twin-MVPs

Pedri was named the man of the match for his silky smooth performance in midfield last night but the Canary Islander refused to accept it and handed the accolade to his teammate and captain Raphinha who was equally impressive.

Both players were MVPs on the night in their own right and it is unfair that only one could walk away with the man-of-the-match title. After all, both have grown into monsters under Hansi Flick.

Pedri, who has seemingly overcome his fitness issues and appears physically in better shape than ever before, started in midfield and toyed around with Young Boys on the night.

The youngster was comfortable as ever on the ball, twisting and turning past the opposition players and seldom ever giving away possession. He orchestrated the play, broke defensive lines regularly and racked up 92% accuracy.

With two successful dribbles, six accurate long balls and one key pass, he was the biggest star in Barcelona’s midfield and deservedly left the field to chants of his name in the stands.

Raphinha, meanwhile, started the game with the captain’s armband and played through the ninety minutes with his energy bizarrely intact.

The Brazilian has grown into his role this season to the point where his every move exudes the passion he holds for the crest. Playing as the mediapunta, his numbers on the night were again staggering.

The Selecao star scored Barcelona’s second goal of the night pouncing on a rebound and even earning an assist for Lewandowski’s opener with a stunning pass across the face of the goal.

Apart from his two-goal contributions, he racked up six key passes, created one big chance and had two shots blocked.