Anthony Gordon made an impression on his first La Liga start for Barcelona, playing a key role in Thursday's 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao. The England forward, who joined from Newcastle United over the summer, was handed his first competitive start by Hansi Flick after impressing from the bench against Elche, where he set up two of Barcelona's five goals in their league opener.
Gordon did not score or assist against Athletic Bilbao but still left a mark. The 25-year-old earned a standing ovation when he left the field, with Karim Adeyemi taking his place for the final 10 minutes. Supporters made their feelings known even earlier, chanting his name when he came to the touchline for a drink and getting a tap of the badge from him in response.
Spanish media praise Gordon's performance
Gordon is still waiting for his first La Liga goal, and the winger was visibly frustrated when Lamine Yamal failed to roll the ball across for a tap-in. Barcelona still won, though, and the Spanish media gave an impression of just how quickly Gordon has endeared himself to fans and press alike.
Sport gave Gordon a rating of 7 out of 10 despite a lack of goal contributions, with other memorable moments including a smart nutmeg on Athletic striker Inaki Williams. "He did practically everything right - meaning he was just a fraction away from executing every play cleanly," they wrote. "It is only a matter of time before that happens; it is simply a question of rhythm, as he has already grasped his role on the left flank. He didn't quite understand why Lamine didn't pass to him in a situation similar to the one he had with Fermín at Elche. He has hit the ground running."
Partnership with Raphinha and comparisons to Dembele
AS put the emphasis on Yamal to get on Gordon and goalscorer Raphinha's wavelength. "Athletic Bilbao managed to contain Barcelona's attack, which once again relied on the blistering pace of a runaway thoroughbred like Raphinha," they wrote. "The Brazilian is constantly making runs, offering himself as an option, tracking back to defend, and leading the team. Moreover, he has found an ideal partner in Gordon, who speaks his language. If Lamine were to adopt even a little of that energy, it would be a nightmare for opposing defences."
Cope pundit Dani Senabre was glowing in his assessment, even comparing Gordon to former Barcelona star Ousmane Dembele. "I'm telling you now, I'm in love with Gordon," Senabre said. "I mean, I'm going to be really persistent, just as persistent as I was with Dembele, I'm going to be with Gordon, because it's only been two games, but I've loved him in both."
Mixed reviews from other outlets
Mundo Deportivo acknowledged it wasn't quite as scintillating a performance from Gordon as in the cameo against Elche. "With limited space, he wasn't as incisive as he had been in Elche," they wrote. "He didn't attack down the wing, although he began to show some connection with his new teammates. He left the pitch to a standing ovation."
Marca, like several other outlets, handed Raphinha the lion's share of the praise but noted Gordon demonstrated potential. "Gordon tried, but he still needs to gel with his teammates and improve his finishing," they wrote. "Lamine is a different story. The Barcelona star isn't shining as brightly as he usually does for the fans."
