The gamers of Barcelona applaud the followers at full-time following the LaLiga EA Sports match between FC Barcelona and Cadiz CF at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on August 20, 2023 in Barcelona, Spain.| Photo Credit: Getty Images

Barcelona discovered a approach to win late and assure a housewarming celebration at its non permanent new residence for the season on Sunday.

With late targets from Pedri and Ferran Torres, Barcelona beat Cadiz 2-0 within the first official match on the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Montjuic, the place the workforce will play whereas the Camp Nou undergoes an intensive makeover. Pedri opened the scoring within the 82nd minute and Torres scored in stoppage time.

Barcelona secured its first win of the season regardless of the absence of coach Xavi and ahead Raphinha due to pink playing cards within the 0-0 opening draw at Getafe final weekend. Xavi was handed a two-game suspension for excessively complaining to the referee and Raphinha was despatched off for elbowing an opponent.

Xavi watched from the stands on the Olympic stadium and stated he was pleased with the workforce’s new residence.

“I really liked how the fans supported the team the whole time. This is very positive for the club,” he stated. “The crowd responded nicely. It was a good start and they will keep supporting us even more.”

Barcelona, the defending champions, struggled in assault till Pedri discovered the online with a left-footed contact following a pleasant give-and-go play with midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, the workforce’s fundamental signing this season. Torres sealed the victory with a objective from inside the realm after a late breakaway. Robert Lewandowski had a objective disallowed for offside.

The win got here earlier than a crowd of 39,603 folks on the Lluis Companys, which was the principle stadium for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and might maintain 49,000 folks — in comparison with the 99,000-capacity Camp Nou, Europe’s largest soccer stadium. The Camp Nou is present process a long-delayed overhaul to enhance its services and add much more seats.

“It was good to come to our new stadium,” Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen stated. “This win will make things easier for us going forward.”

Cadiz, which barely prevented relegation final season, opened with a 1-0 win over Alaves final weekend.

ATLETICO MADRID HELD

Atletico Madrid was held to a 0-0 draw at Real Betis in a match with few vital scoring alternatives within the warmth of Seville.

Betis seemed the extra harmful workforce however was not in a position to break the impasse on the Benito Villamarín Stadium.

“We were better in the first half but in the second it became harder because of the heat,” Betis coach Manuel Pellegrini stated. “But you can never say that a draw against Atletico is a bad result.”

Both groups had been attempting to win their second consecutive match to start out the season.

“We did not create numerous hazard within the first half however might have achieved higher in entrance of the objective after halftime," Atletico coach Diego Simeone stated.

Betis has gained solely considered one of its final 22 league matches in opposition to Atletico since Simeone's arrival.

Also Sunday, Getafe remained winless after shedding 3-0 at Girona, which had two targets from Uruguay striker Cristhian Stuani within the second half after one from Venezuelan midfielder Yangel Herrera within the first.

Madrid gained 3-1 at Almería on Saturday for its second consecutive win. It leads the league alongside Valencia, which beat Las Palmas 1-0 on Friday.