FC Barcelona midfielder Pedri, with the help of Ferran Torres, prevented the Catalans from breaking an unwanted 50-year-old record on Sunday night by claiming their first victory of the season by beating Cadiz 2-0 at home.

Barca made history again when they made their 2023/2024 debut at the temporary home stadium of Montjuic, or rather Lamine Yamal did.

Selected by Xavi in ​​the absence of Raphinha, who was last shown a red card against Getafe, the 16-year-old has become his childhood club. La Liga’s youngest debutant.

The youngster received a standing ovation after playing 85 minutes and was still impressive.

He should have been awarded a first-half penalty after being hacked off, while coming close to scoring his first senior goal with a saved shot just past the post.

Barca again had some valid penalty cries but it looked like they were on course to break an unwanted 50-year record amid Gavi hitting the bar with a header and substitute Ez Abde closing in with a shot fired out of the top corner.

Had Barca not ultimately scored, it would have been the first time they have started a La Liga campaign without a goal in their first two outings since 1973.

However, with eight minutes remaining, Pedri, in the forward position of a false left winger, ‘showed his face’, as they say in Spanish.

Rounding the edge of the box, he latched on to a magnificent through ball from Ilkay Gundogan, then had to go to ground to slide his effort past Jeremias Ledesma into the back of the net.

A crowd of 39,000 at the Montjuic stadium went wild and probably breathed a sigh of relief knowing that Barca had finally taken off and would likely end the proceedings just two points behind Real Madrid, who count until present two wins out of two.

In the depths of stoppage time, Yamal’s replacement, Ferran, made sure of it by doubling the score.

By highlighting his name and new number 7 on the back of his shirt after his conversion, the Spain international reportedly hoped he had done enough to knock Yamal out of Xavi’s first-team plans – although that’s easier said than done. ‘to do.

Next up will be a tricky trip to Villarreal on Sunday where the heat will be unbearable at 5.30pm local time in the height of the Spanish summer.