Raphinha denoted his Barcelona debut with a goal and two assists
Raphinha denoted his Barcelona debut with a goal and two assists as the Spanish giants started off their four-coordinate US visit with a comprehensive thrashing of David Beckham's Inter Miami on Tuesday.
The Brazilian, signed from Premier League club Leeds United recently for around $60 million, covered a promising first trip for his new club with a very much taken first-half strike after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had given the LaLiga giants the lead at a sold-out Drv Pnk Stadium.
With individual new signing Robert Lewandowski not involved in front of his authority disclosing in Miami on Wednesday - following his move from Bayern Munich - it was passed on to Raphinha, 25, to get the thousands of Barcelona fans in participation amped up for what's to come.
"I was exceptionally glad to score my first goal and to play well and I trust that continues," Raphinha said. "This is a system which favors me and I want to really help the group pushing ahead."
The Brazilian was making his presentation alongside individual newbie Andreas Christensen, who left Chelsea toward the finish of the season, and both were impressive against Phil Neville's side.
Typically, Barcelona ruled possession against the MLS group and previous Arsenal forward Aubameyang went closest on 15 minutes to opening the halt when his close-range exertion flashed past the post.
There was no denying him soon after when he coolly chipped the ball past Inter Miami keeper Nick Marsman following great work from Pedri and afterward Raphinha.
Also, on 25 minutes it was Raphinha's chance to get on the scoresheet, the Brazilian skillfully directing home an Alejandro Balde cross to twofold Barcelona's lead.
'ANOTHER LEVEL'
It was totally one-way traffic and Raphinha covered a decent night's work with another assist just before halftime, teeing up Ansu Fati who skillfully smashed home from close reach.
"It was quite difficult for us, we were playing against elite players, it was a splendid occasion to be essential for however according to a playing perspective, this was something to appreciate," Neville said. "Some youthful players would have removed a ton from an encounter like that. This could life-change for some of our group. We realized they would be on another level.
"We needed to battle and acknowledge they would have a ton of the ball and to hold it to 6-0 was a positive. This was an incredible growth opportunity for us yet presently we need to focus on MLS and a major event on Saturday against New York City."
The two teams made a heap of changes after the interval yet the result was never in uncertainty, Gavi's great finish from a Memphis Depay corner making it four on 55 minutes before the Dutch forward created a sublime turn and finish to make it 5-0.
Ousmane Dembele's driving run assisted set up a sixth of the night with 20 minutes staying as Neville's side were totally outclassed.
"Their movements are difficult to follow, they can stir it up and they are a-list players and when you have so numerous on the pitch at one time, they make it extremely challenging for you," said USA international DeAndre Yedlin. "That is the reason they are perhaps of the best group on the planet."
This was the first round of Barca's US visit which will see them face Real Madrid, Juventus and the New York Red Bulls before the start of the new LaLiga season on 12 August.
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