Seventy per cent of the ball, 22 shots, two woodwork hits — and Barcelona only win 2-0
Athletic Club did not put a single shot on target at the Camp Nou. Their goalkeeper made eight saves, and it still finished with Raphinha and Fermín López on the scoresheet.
Barcelona's postponed opener was a siege that took 82 minutes to become safe. They had 70% of the ball, 622 passes, 22 shots and 44 touches in the Athletic box. Athletic had five shots, none of them on target.
Raphinha scored on 37 minutes. Fermín López — who scored twice at Elche four days earlier — got the second on 82.
Everything except goals
Between those two moments, Barcelona hit the woodwork twice, won 12 corners, created five big chances and put ten shots on target. Athletic's goalkeeper made eight saves. Barcelona's made none — he had nothing to make one against.
The expected goals finished 3.91 to 0.25, and the xG on target of 3.69 to zero is the cleanest possible summary: Athletic never worked the goalkeeper once. They did hit the woodwork themselves, which is as close as a side with 30% possession and 184 accurate passes got.
Match facts
- 37' — Raphinha (Barcelona)
- 82' — Fermín López (Barcelona)
| Stat | Barcelona | Athletic Club |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 70% | 30% |
| Total shots | 22 | 5 |
| Shots on target | 10 | 0 |
| Expected goals (xG) | 3.91 | 0.25 |
| Big chances created | 5 | 0 |
| Accurate passes | 560 (90%) | 184 (73%) |
| Corners | 12 | 5 |
| Offsides | 8 | 5 |
| Fouls committed | 13 | 6 |
| Yellow cards | 1 | 2 |
| Saves | 0 | 8 |
What's next
Two matches, two wins, seven goals scored and none conceded puts Barcelona level on six points with Real Madrid, Sevilla and Betis, and ahead of all of them on goal difference. Athletic have played twice, lost twice, and have a red card from the Sevilla match still to work through.
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