Anthony Gordon wins over Barcelona in 25-minute debut

Anthony Gordon has made an immediate case for a bigger role at Barcelona after producing two assists during his first competitive appearance for the club. The England international came off the bench to show the technical quality and decision-making that Barcelona expected when signing him from Newcastle.

Gordon entered in the 65th minute of Barcelona’s 5-0 win at Elche and needed only five minutes to create both goals. His first contribution set up Raphinha with his first touch, while the second allowed Fermín López to score. Gordon chose to pass in the latter situation rather than take a possible first goal for himself.

The 25-year-old arrived after scoring 17 goals in all competitions for Newcastle and now faces competition from Raphinha and Karim Adeyemi for an attacking place. Barcelona paid €80 million for the former Everton winger, placing added attention on his adaptation to the Catalan side.

His opening performance eased those expectations and gave the club an encouraging option on the left wing. Gordon has also described his integration into the squad and life in Barcelona as smooth, but he will need to maintain this level to establish himself as a regular starter.