Barcelona vs Athletic Club: Catalan cub win 4-0 at Camp Nou

Barcelona thrashed Athletic Club 4-0 in the La Liga fixture at Camp Nou on Sunday. Xavi’s side opened the scoring through Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the first half before finding the back of the net three times in the final 20 minutes of the game to seal all three points. Ousmane Dembele doubled the lead seventeen minutes from time before Luuk de Jong and Memphis Depay’s late goals completed the drubbing. It was Barca’s second consecutive league win, taking them to 45 points from 25 games, level on points with fifth place Atletico Madrid, who have played a game more. 

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FULL TIME!!!! #BarçaAthletic pic.twitter.com/6XXNfmTnvH

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) February 27, 2022

Marcelino Garcia Toral made several changes to the Athletic side looking ahead to next week’s Copa del Rey semi-final. Therefore the visitors came out with a defensive game plan to try and frustrate the Catalan club. 

Barca started the match brightly as they controlled the game and were creating good goal-scoring chances. An unmarked Gavi, inside the box, missed a sitter from Ferran Torres’ cut back early on. Torres’ powerful shot from the left side of the box was saved by Unai Simon at the near post before Aubameyang broke the deadlock on 37 minutes. 

Dani Alves sent a corner into the box, Gerard Pique headed into the crossbar, and Aubameyang reacted quicker than everyone and volleyed home past Simon into the back of the net. It was the 32-year-old striker’s fifth goal in three games in all competitions. 

Dembele scores one and sets up two

Just after the hour-mark, a mix-up by the Athletic defence allowed Torres to go through on goal, but Simon quickly came off his line to make a brilliant save.  Barcelona deservedly got their second of the night courtesy of Dembele’s superb strike on 73 minutes. The Frenchman’s powerful left-foot strike from the left side of the box smashed into the roof of the net. 

Barca continued to dominate the game and netted their third of the night in the 90th minute. Dembele cut inside from the right and sent in a perfect in-swinging cross for Luuk de Jong to head home from close range. It was the Dutch striker’s fifth goal of the season.

Three minutes later, Dembele registered his second assist of the night, when his teasing low cross from the right was tucked in by Depay from in front of goal. Xavi’s side has now scored 12 goals in their last three games in all competitions and they look better and stronger after each game.