Pedri and Torres triumphant as Barcelona secure win against Cadiz in their new stadium

Pedri and Ferran Torres delivered crucial goals as Barcelona, the reigning La Liga champions, secured a 2-0 victory over Cadiz in their first competitive home game at the Olympic Stadium. This temporary relocation comes as the Camp Nou undergoes extensive reconstruction and enhancements over the next 18 months. Despite facing a resilient Cadiz side, Barcelona managed to break the deadlock with a clever assist from Ilkay Gundogan, allowing Pedri to find the back of the net. In the dying moments of the game, substitute Ferran Torres sealed the win with a composed finish.

Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez, who was serving a suspension after being sent off in the previous match against Getafe, made some tactical adjustments for the game. He gave 16-year-old Lamine Yamal his first start, replacing the suspended Raphinha on the right flank. Yamal impressed in the first half, coming closest to scoring with a well-placed shot that was expertly saved by Cadiz goalkeeper Jeremias Ledesma.

The match drew nearly 40,000 fans, although there were around 10,000 empty seats due to a lower uptake of season tickets caused by the temporary move from Camp Nou. Both teams had their chances, with Cadiz’s Roger Marti being denied by an outstanding save from Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen. Barcelona’s Oriol Romeu also had a goalbound effort blocked, reflecting their struggle to break through Cadiz’s defense.

In the second half, Ruben Alcaraz and Chris Ramos came close to scoring for Cadiz, while Barcelona’s Gavi hit the crossbar with a header. Xavi made further changes, introducing Ez Abde and Ansu Fati to strengthen the attack. Barcelona applied pressure with crosses into the box, but Robert Lewandowski failed to make an impact. Abde, however, tested Ledesma with a powerful curling shot.

The breakthrough finally came when Gundogan played a delicately chipped pass to Pedri, who calmly finished past Ledesma with eight minutes remaining. In a touching gesture, Pedri dedicated his goal celebration to the wildfire-stricken island of Tenerife. Cadiz had a chance to equalize through Darwin Machis, but he scuffed his shot over the bar from close range. Ultimately, Torres sealed the victory for Barcelona, capitalizing on Lewandowski’s header and showcasing his composure to find the back of the net.

Overall, it was not a convincing performance from Barcelona, but they managed to secure a crucial win in their temporary home venue.