Fermin 9, Eric Garcia 9 | Barcelona 4-0 Athletic Club: Player ratings | OneFootball

Athletic Club could not spoil Barcelona’s party in their first game back at the Spotify Camp Nou on Saturday evening as the Catalans comfortably pounced to a 4-0 win.

Robert Lewandowski scored the first goal back in the historic stadium early in the game, but the game then got cagey with both teams pushing forward in attack and creating chances.

Ferran Torres then doubled the lead at the other end of the half off a Lamine Yamal assist to hand the team a comfortable lead heading into the break.

Immediately after the restart of the game, Fermin Lopez made it 3-0 for the team, and the result was almost sealed when the visitors were reduced to ten men soon after. Torres then put the cherry on the cake with a late goal.

Barça Universal brings you the player ratings from Barcelona 4-0 Athletic Club.

Joan Garcia: 8

The new signing returned to the field for the first time after his injury and was the goalkeeper for Barcelona’s first game back at the Spotify Camp Nou. The difference with him in goal was tangible.

With all respect to Wojciech Szczesny for his time covering in for Garcia, the youngster once again showed why he is such an asset in goal as he timed his runs outside the box to perfection, acted as a sweeper keeper, and was rock-solid in goal.

Alejandro Balde: 7.5

The left-back played virtually as a winger on the left flank, pushing high forward, especially in the absence of Marcus Rashford.

Yet, he did well to keep Nico Williams at bay for most of his time on the pitch and held up his end of the high defensive line and offside trap to good effect.

Gerard Martin: 8

Starting as a centre-back, it was unclear what one could expect of the young defender. Martin’s performance, credit where it is due, was brilliant.

The Spaniard looked comfortable playing on the left side of defence and did well to partner with Pau Cubarsi at the back. He was secure with his distribution and held the offside trap surprisingly well.

Pau Cubarsi: 8

The teenage prodigy was once again the leader of Barcelona’s defence and kept his cool, not looking flustered even when the visitors got the mild upper hand.

His positioning was spot on, distribution neat through tight spaces, and he pulled off the occasional audacious long-ball to set the attackers free into space.

Jules Kounde: 7.5

While Kounde has been a shadow of his former self for most of this season, his performance against Athletic Club was perhaps his best all season.

The Frenchman looked much more alert, neat with his distribution, and linked up well in tight spaces with one-touch passes. He was neat in defence and even looked better in the final third linking with Lamine Yamal.

A special evening at the Spotify Camp Nou. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Eric Garcia: 9

Garcia has quickly become one of Barcelona’s most important defensive players, and his versatility was put to the test once again as Hansi Flick asked him to play as a pivot today.

The Spaniard was stunning in the position, intercepting balls in the midfield and quickly converting defence into attack, distributing the ball with comfort, and even linking up in tight spaces.

Provided a great assist for Fermin Lopez’s goal in the second half, eliminating the Athletic defence and putting the ball on a platter.

Dani Olmo: 7

Playing in a deeper role than usual, Olmo did well to hold his line and do what was asked of him without venturing forward.

He was neat with his distribution and connected well with Lamine Yamal, even looking for occasional long-balls to set Balde into space.

Fermin Lopez: 9

Fermin’s tenacity is second to none. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Lopez had a few chances to score for Barcelona in the first half but could not capitalise on them, including one 1v1 chance that he would have put to bed on any other day.

Yet, he was in his element against Athletic Club, spirited in the attacking midfield and even looking to break the opposition’s defences with his through balls constantly. His work-rate, needless to say, was crucial off the ball.

Kicked off the second half with a bang, scoring a clean finish to hand Barcelona their third goal. 

Lamine Yamal: 8.5

Yamal and Torres combined for a wonderful goal. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

The youngster looked more comfortable taking on players back at the Spotify Camp Nou, possibly due to the rest he had over the past two weeks, but still remained largely quiet in the first half in terms of chance creation.

In the final play of the half, he pulled off a stunning through-ball with the outside of his boot to set Ferran Torres into space, virtually single-handedly creating the goal out of nothing.

Assisted the same player again in the dying minutes of the game and came close to scoring.

Ferran Torres: 8

The former Valencia star had one goal ruled out for offside in the first half, but went on to score with a cool finish off Lamine Yamal’s assist late in the same half.

Beyond the goal, he looked more fit than he was before the break and put in the work off the ball as well.

Found the back of the net again in the final minute of regulation time with a great run and finish off Yamal’s assist.

Robert Lewandowski: 8

The history-maker. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Who else to score Barcelona’s first goal at the new Camp Nou than Robert Lewandowski, and it was really never in doubt with how the game began.

The Polish veteran got into goalscoring chances with ease in the opening minutes of the game and drove a low strike with his left foot past Unai Simon in the first ten minutes to hand the team the lead.