MADRID (AP) — Barcelona needed late goals from Pedri and Ferran Torres to beat Cadiz 2-0 in the Spanish league in the first official match at its temporary new home for the season on Sunday.
Pedri scored in the 82nd minute and Torres in stoppage time to secure the win at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Montjuic, where the team will play while the Camp Nou undergoes an extensive makeover.
Barcelona secured its first win of the season despite the absence of coach Xavi and forward Raphinha because of red cards in the 0-0 opening draw at Getafe last weekend. Xavi was handed a two-game suspension for excessively complaining with the referee and Raphinha was sent off for elbowing an opponent.
Barcelona struggled in attack until Pedri found the net with a left-footed touch following a nice give-and-go play with midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, the team’s main signing this season. Torres sealed the victory with a goal from inside the area after a late breakaway. Robert Lewandowski had a goal disallowed for offside.
The win came before a crowd of 39,603 people at the Lluis Companys, which was the main stadium for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and can hold 49,000 people — compared to the 99,000-capacity Camp Nou, Europe’s largest soccer stadium. The Camp Nou is undergoing a long-delayed overhaul to improve its facilities and add even more seats.
Cadiz, which barely avoided relegation last season, opened with a 1-0 win over Alaves last weekend.
Getafe remained winless after losing 3-0 at Girona, which got two goals from Uruguay striker Cristhian Stuani in the second half and one from Venezuelan midfielder Yangel Herrera in the first.
