Karim Adeyemi Shines in Barcelona Debut with Goal

Karim Adeyemi needed one start to make his point.

Handed his first place in Hansi Flick’s Barcelona XI against Elche, the German winger marked his full debut with a goal, immediately stamping his name on the champions’ new-look attack.

The summer signing from Borussia Dortmund slotted in on the flank and looked at home almost instantly. Sharp off the ball, direct on it, he combined with Lamine Yamal and Raphinha as if this front line had been together for months, not weeks.

The breakthrough came from the new captain. Raphinha, wearing the armband after a turbulent summer of arrivals and departures, struck first to give Barça the lead. He didn’t stop there. Just before half-time, he turned provider, sliding the ball across for Adeyemi to finish and cap a dream first start.

Yamal, still a teenager but already central to Flick’s plans, threaded himself into the move as well, linking play and drifting into pockets Elche couldn’t close. For a coach reshaping his attack on the fly, the sight of his three forwards dovetailing so naturally will have felt like confirmation: the rebuild is already taking shape.