On August 24, Barcelona defeated Elche 5-0 away from home in the second round of La Liga. After the match, according to "Mundo Deportivo", Barcelona president Laporta and sporting director Deco were very satisfied with the immediate impact of the team's new signings. The club's management believes these players can make significant contributions to the team in the future.

Elche, coached by Martín Anselmi, adopted a straightforward tactical approach. However, against Barcelona, who are pushing for their third consecutive La Liga title, Elche’s overall strength and tactical system were simply outmatched. It is worth noting that several of Barcelona’s summer signings had not previously won a top-tier competition title.

Against this backdrop, Gavi and Karim Adeyemi took charge, quickly integrating into the team with diligence while fully supporting coach Flick. They helped Barcelona recapture the strong momentum of Flick’s first season, transforming the team into a significantly greater attacking threat. Particularly in faster-paced European competitions against tight, compact defensive sides such as Atlético Madrid, the team can now adjust its rhythm flexibly to adapt to different situations.

In this match, Raphinha quickly found his rhythm and assumed considerable responsibility. Under Flick’s setup, he even wore the captain’s armband. Adeyemi and Gavi displayed the same fighting spirit and infectious energy. The German forward started on the left wing, fully showcasing his quality as a top winger.

With Bernal back from injury, Yamal and Raphinha were able to fully showcase their technical skills. Before halftime, Raphinha delivered an accurate pass to create a one-on-one opportunity for Adeyemi, the former Dortmund player. Throughout his career, Adeyemi has scored 17 goals in 50 Champions League matches, a testament to his quality. When presented with the chance, he executed a delicate change of direction in the penalty area, dribbled past Matías Dituro, and calmly finished. Wearing the No. 14 jersey—previously worn by Ferran Torres—the German forward scored his first goal for Barcelona. After giving the team the lead, Adeyemi was substituted in the 65th minute.

Even before joining Barcelona, Gavi had already won fans over with his fluent Spanish and knowledge of Catalan. When Deco scouted him during his time at Newcastle, he was deeply impressed by Gavi’s meticulous defensive work and high-impact playing style.

Less than two minutes after coming on as a substitute, Gavi delivered a precise diagonal pass into the penalty area to set up Raphinha, who scored with ease to make it 3-0. Four minutes later, the former Everton player pressed forward again to create a one-on-one opportunity, assisting Fermín’s goal. Gavi tried several times to score afterward, but on a muggy night in Elche, he was just a little short of luck.

Meanwhile, Flick on the sideline and Laporta and Deco in the stands were delighted with the immediate impact of the two new signings. Both arrivals were relatively low-key, but Barcelona’s management firmly believes they can provide crucial support for Flick's rebuilding plan. Although the squad is not yet fully complete, this new-look Barcelona has already demonstrated unstoppable competitive form.

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