Barcelona began their 2026-27 LaLiga title defense in emphatic fashion, securing a 5-0 victory over Elche. Midfielder Fermin Lopez stood out during the match, netting two goals and drawing attention for his choice of celebration. After scoring, Lopez pointed to his chest and then to the ground in a gesture reminiscent of Cristiano Ronaldo’s iconic “I’m here” celebration.
The performance was a significant milestone for the Spain international, who recently returned to competitive action following a lengthy injury layoff. His admiration for the Portuguese star extends beyond the pitch; following the match, social media archives surfaced showing a young Lopez posing for photos with Ronaldo during the forward’s time at Juventus. Further footage also shows him recreating the famous “Siuuu” celebration during his days in the Barcelona academy.
Lopez’s affinity for the former Real Madrid icon is notable given the tendency for Barcelona’s La Masia graduates to favor Lionel Messi. This preference was further solidified when the midfielder opted to take the number seven shirt for the new season, vacating his previous number 16 jersey for new arrival Rodri.
Hansi Flick’s side dominated the match from the outset, with captain Raphinha opening the scoring from the penalty spot in the 14th minute. Raphinha later turned provider, setting up Karim Adeyemi to double the lead during first-half stoppage time. The captain continued his influential display by netting his second goal in the 67th minute, assisted by Anthony Gordon.
The victory was rounded off by Lopez’s clinical finishing. Gordon provided his second assist of the night to set up Lopez for his first goal in the 71st minute, before the midfielder completed the 5-0 rout in the 79th minute following a pass from academy graduate Xavi Espart. This decisive win marks the largest margin of victory in the league so far, providing the champions with an ideal start to their campaign. The report also notes that hansi Flick ‘s side opened the scoring through captain Raphinha from the penalty spot after only 14 minutes. The report also notes that gordon delivered a second assist as Fermin Lopez put La Blaugrana 4-0 up in the 71st minute. The report also notes that while Ronaldo was on the books of Juventus, he had excitedly posed for pictures with the Portuguese great as a youngster on holiday. The report also notes that the admiration of Ronaldo by the Spaniard is newsworthy because the vast majority of the club’s academy graduates usually have a clear preference for Lionel Messi. The report also notes that one he continues to hold on to, even at this point, lopez has made a different choice. The report also notes that commencing their title defence in the best way possible, the champions have claimed the biggest win of the season so far.
