FC Barcelona continued their strong start to the 2024-2025 La Liga season with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao at the Estadio Olímpico de Montjuïc. The win, Barcelona’s second in as many matches under new coach Hansi Flick, keeps them perfect in the league and temporarily places them at the top of the table alongside Celta Vigo with six points.The match showcased the talents of Barcelona’s attack, particularly 17-year-old Lamine Yamal and veteran striker Robert Lewandowski. Yamal opened the scoring in the 24th minute with a clever shot that caught the Bilbao goalkeeper off guard. However, Athletic Bilbao equalized through Oihan Sancet’s penalty kick in the 41st minute after a VAR review.The second half saw Barcelona dominate possession and create numerous chances, with Lewandowski hitting the post twice before finally breaking through in the 75th minute. The Polish striker, who celebrated his 36th birthday just days earlier, tapped in a loose ball following a deflected cross from Pedri to secure the win.Despite the victory, Barcelona faced some challenges off the pitch. New signing Dani Olmo was unable to play as he had not been registered in time for the match, highlighting the club’s ongoing financial difficulties. Coach Hansi Flick acknowledged these issues but praised his team’s performance, stating, ‘Barcelona’s accounts don’t balance in the offices, but they do on the field’.The win extends Athletic Bilbao’s 23-year winless streak at Barcelona, while also showcasing the potential of Barcelona’s young talents like Yamal alongside established stars like Lewandowski. As Barcelona prepares for their next match against Valladolid on August 31st, they will look to build on this promising start to the season under Flick’s leadership.
Key points
- Barcelona secured a 2-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao, maintaining their perfect start in La Liga.
- Lamine Yamal (17) and Robert Lewandowski (36) scored for Barcelona, showcasing a blend of youth and experience.
- New coach Hansi Flick has led Barcelona to two wins in two matches, despite off-field financial challenges.
Contradictions👾There are discrepancies in the reported scoreline, with some sources stating 2-1 and others reporting 3-0.
The majority of sources confirm a 2-1 result, so this is likely the correct score.
