Barcelona secured a resounding 5-2 victory against Red Star Belgrade at the Rajko Mitic Stadium, marking their third consecutive win in the UEFA Champions League. This triumph helps them solidify their position at the top of the Group standings, while also enhancing their restored European prestige.
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The Blaugrana team continues to settle old scores in this tournament. After breaking free from past ghosts with a stunning win against Bayern Munich last week, they managed to win their first away European match with considerable authority, following a disappointing start in Monaco.
Red Star was a suitable opponent for this match, as they dominate the Serbian SuperLiga, remaining unbeaten, but are one of the underdogs in this ‘Champions’ league, where they have suffered defeats in every game.
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Barcelona started the match showcasing all the attributes that have made them a formidable team under Flick: recovery after losing the ball, an advanced defensive line, and strategic dominance.
Just four minutes into the game, the referee had already disallowed a goal from home player Elsnik for offside, marking the fourteenth time an opposing player has had a goal ruled out against the Azulgrana this season.
Lamine Yamal threatened Ilic in the 8th minute, striking a rebound in the area that the Red Star goalkeeper managed to collect easily. Five minutes later, Íñigo Martínez headed home a free kick taken by Raphinha from the left, putting Barcelona ahead 1-0.
Barcelona, who dominated effortlessly, seemed to be on course for more goals. Raphinha nearly doubled the lead with an Olympic-style attempt that struck the post, followed by another shot over the bar after an exquisite pass from Lamine Yamal that found him in a perfect position behind the home defense.
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However, Barcelona’s defensive play often resembles a tightrope walk, and a first-touch triangle between Ndiaye and Krunic left Silas one-on-one, who skillfully chipped the ball over Iñaki Peña to equalize, sending the Little Marakana into raptures just before the half-hour mark.
Red Star seemed to gain momentum not just in the scoreline but in play. Yet, it was again Barcelona who struck first before the break. A fierce shot from Raphinha hit the post, but Lewandowski was right there to tap in the rebound, catching Ilic off guard, making it 2-1.
Red Star held on during the first half, but the Catalan side transformed into a juggernaut in the second half. With sharper gameplay, a more profound Kounde, and Pedri’s increased involvement, they sealed the match within the first ten minutes of the second half.
Pedri and Lewandowski both came close to scoring with attempts from inside the area that missed the target before Lewandowski, the Polish forward, finally found the net from a Kounde cross to the far post, marking his nineteenth goal of the season and his 99th career goal in the Champions League.
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In the following play, Raphinha added to the score with a low shot that caught Ilic at the base of the post, extending the lead to 4-1 after receiving another assist from Kounde.
The match was already sealed, but Barcelona experienced an unexpected scare off the scoreboard as Cubarsí had to leave the field with a bloodied face after Spajic caught him with a boot in a game incident.
The young academy player left the pitch appearing a bit dazed but on his own feet in the 67th minute, replaced in defense by Sergi Domínguez.
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Fermín, another substitute in the second half, completed the scoring for the visitors just before the match approached its final fifteen minutes. His goal came from a setup on the right by an inspired Kounde, who opted to carry the ball to the byline before providing his third assist.
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Fermín nearly added a sixth soon after, with a shot that hit the crossbar, shortly after Red Star found their only clear chance of the entire second half, scoring through the recently introduced Milson, who surprised Peña with a well-placed curled shot after receiving the ball inside the area.
A note of reassurance surfaced when Barcelona’s coach, German Hansi Flick, confirmed that defender Pau Cubarsí, who had to leave Wednesday’s match against Red Star after a fortuitous kick to the face, “is fine.”
“They have stitched him up, but he is young,” Flick said regarding the condition of the Blaugrana center-back at the conclusion of the Champions League matchday four.
Cubarsí left the pitch of his own accord but with a bloodied face in the 67th minute after local player Spajic caught him with his studs during a game incident. His place in defense was taken by Sergi Domínguez.
