BARCELONA, Sep 17: Joao Felix and Joao Cancelo scored after making their first starts for Barcelona in a 5-0 rout of Real Betis in the Spanish league on Saturday.
The pair of Portugal internationals made their debuts last round for Barcelona as substitutes two days after they joined the defending champions on loan just hours before the summer transfer market closed.
Felix opened the scoring and Cancelo capped the biggest win so far this season for the defending champions. Felix scored in the 25th minute and then cleverly let a pass run between his legs in the area that Robert Lewandowski fired home to double the lead in the 32nd.
Ferran Torres, who also made his first start of the season, added a third goal in the 62nd when he became the first Barcelona player to score directly from a free kick since Lionel Messi did so against Valencia in May 2021.
After substitute Raphinha struck from just outside the area in the 66th, Cancelo topped the victory in the 81st with a great solo effort after he cut back twice to ditch his marker and beat goalkeeper Rui Silva from an angle.
Barcelona moved top of the league till the filing of this story. Barcelona hosts Antwerp on Tuesday to start its Champions League group campaign.
Valencia stun Atletico Madrid
A first-half double from Hugo Duro and a goal from Javi Guerra earned Valencia a 3-0 home win over Atletico Madrid on Saturday as they inflicted the visitor’s first La Liga loss this season.
Valencia, who came from two successive losses, outplayed an Atletico side hampered by injuries and lacking pace after the suspension of their match against Sevilla last month before the international break.
It was Valencia’s first win over Atletico since 2014 and takes them to fifth place with nine points.
Diego Simeone’s side, who are seventh with seven points, will play their Champions League opener at Lazio on Tuesday before their league derby against Real Madrid on Sept. 24. (AP)
