FC Barcelona trounced Feyenoord 5-1 last evening in the UEFA Champions League at the Spotify Camp Nou, continuing their excellent start to the season.
Raphinha once again led the way for the Catalans with a brace, while Karim Adeyemi and Lamine Yamal both scored screamers.
The icing on the cake came in the form of Gabriel Jesus’ first goal in Blaugrana colours, coming with his first touch at the Spotify Camp Nou, on only his second appearance for the club.
The Brazilian forward, signed from Arsenal, made his Champions League debut for Barcelona in the closing stages of the victory over Feyenoord and wasted little time making his mark.
Just a couple of minutes after coming on, he met a precise cross from Lamine and glanced his header beyond the Feyenoord goalkeeper.
A dream start for Gabriel Jesus
The goal allowed Gabriel Jesus to perform his trademark celebration for the first time as a Barcelona player.
Speaking to the media after the match, the 29-year-old striker was unable to hide the immense pleasure he felt.
Off the mark. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
“I had the same feeling as when I scored my first professional goal. It’s a different kind of emotion,” Jesus said, as quoted by SPORT.
“My first goal at a full Camp Nou, something I had always imagined, and I’ve already been able to achieve it in my second match for the club.”
Scoring in the Champions League made the moment even more significant, while doing so during his first minutes at a packed Spotify Camp Nou made it a particularly memorable introduction to his new supporters.
Gabriel Jesus reaches Rivaldo’s mark
The goal also moved Jesus into some distinguished company.
He began this Champions League campaign as the fifth-highest-scoring Brazilian in the competition, with 26 goals, level with Real Madrid forward Rodrygo, who is recovering from surgery on the cruciate ligament in his right knee and is not expected back until 2027.
His strike against Feyenoord took him to 27 Champions League goals, bringing him level with Rivaldo, another Brazilian who represented both Palmeiras and Barcelona.
Gabriel Jesus was proud to find himself alongside such illustrious names, as he said: “Rivaldo is an extraordinary player, an idol of this club and someone I’ve always admired on the pitch.
“It’s a pleasure to share this list with great names from our history, with so many geniuses and stars that only Brazil can produce, each in their own era and period playing in the Champions League.”
Aiming for Champions League glory. (Photo by Judit Cartiel/Getty Images)
The Champions League holds particular importance for Jesus. The competition brings together Europe’s elite and provides the stage on which the biggest players make their mark.
The Brazilian admitted that he is especially motivated by the prospect of competing in it again.
“I really like playing in this competition. Last year I fell just short and I hope this season will be different,” he said.
For Jesus, winning the Champions League would also provide an opportunity to erase the disappointment of previous finals.
He reached the 2021 final with Manchester City, only to lose to Chelsea. More recently, he watched Arsenal suffer a penalty shoot-out defeat to Luis Enrique’s PSG in Budapest in May.
Now, wearing Barcelona colours, the 29-year-old has another opportunity to chase the trophy.
And after scoring within minutes of his Champions League debut at Camp Nou, the Brazilian has made the kind of start that could reignite his career on Europe’s biggest stage.
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