Barcelona 4-0 Athletic Bilbao: Dembele fuells romp past Los Leones
The French winger was in fine fettle on a productive cameo display against Athletic
Dani Alves returned to the team and Xavi deployed Sergino Dest on the left to cover for the suspended Jordi Alba. Ferran Torres maintained his place in the side up top, alongside in-form duo Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Adama Traore.
Barcelona were comfortably on top in the first half and eventually got Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s goal to show for it, his fifth in three starts.
Gavi should have opened the scoring early on but blazed high over the bar after good work by Ferran Torres.
The Spain forward linked well with his team-mates but his own shooting was not up to scratch, curling one off-target.
At the other end Marc-Andre ter Stegen made a couple of simple saves.
Aubameyang broke the deadlock in the 37th minute, when Unai Simon made a fine save from Gerard Pique’s header but the former Arsenal striker measured the rebound well and volleyed home.
Ferran Torres had another chance to score in the second half, one-on-one, but fired straight at Simon. Auba in support would have had a tap-in.
Barcelona eventually made the game sae, and then some, after Ousmane Dembele came on. He entered to whistles and left to cheers.
Dembele blasted Barcelona further in front with a rocket into the top corner, then set up further goals for subs Luuk de Jong and the returning Memphis Depay.
It’s been a great month for Barcelona and there is plenty of excitement for the weeks ahead.
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