Anthony Gordon was handed his first La Liga start for Barcelona against Athletic Bilbao
Anthony Gordon on his first La Liga start for Barcelona
Anthony Gordon made an impression on his first La Liga start for Barcelona (Image: Jose Breton/NurPhoto/Shutterstock)
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Anthony Gordon didn't have to wait long for his first competitive start in a Barcelona shirt. The England forward, who joined from Newcastle United over the summer, was thrust into the limelight by Hansi Flick for Thursday's 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao.
Gordon got his opportunity after impressing from the bench against Elche, setting up two of Barca's five goals in their league opener. He didn't score or assist this time but still left an impression.
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 had 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.
He 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. Barca still won, though, and the Spanish media gave an impression of just how quickly Gordon has endeared himself to fans and press alike.
Sport
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 FermÃn at Elche. He has hit the ground running."
AS
It hasn't taken long for Gordon and goalscorer Raphinha to form a dangerous partnership, with AS putting the emphasis on Yamal to get on their 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.
BARCELONA, SPAIN - AUGUST 27: Anthony Gordon of FC Barcelona runs with the ball during the LaLiga EA Sports 2026/27 match between FC Barcelona and Athletic Club at Spotify Camp Nou on August 27, 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Pablo Rodriguez/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
Gordon has won over fans quickly(Image: Quality Sport Images, Getty Images)
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"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
Cope pundit Dani Senabre was glowing in his assessment of Gordon. He even made comparisons with former Barca star Ousmane Dembele, who was ultimately allowed to fly the nest before winning the Ballon d'Or as a Paris Saint-Germain player.
"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."
Mundo Deportivo
Over at Mundo Deportivo, there was acknowledgement that it wasn't quite as scintillating a performance from Gordon as in the cameo against Elche. That's not to say there were no positives.
"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."
ELCHE, SPAIN - AUGUST 23: Anthony Gordon of Barcelona runs with the ball during the LaLiga EA Sports 2026/27 match between Elche CF and FC Barcelona at Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero on August 23, 2026 in Elche, Spain. (Photo by Francisco Macia/Getty Images)
Gordon bagged two assists in his first La Liga outing last weekend(Image: Francisco Macia/Getty Images))
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Marca
Marca, like several other outlets, handed Raphinha the lion's share of the praise following Thursday's match. Still, they noted Gordon demonstrated potential and instead posed questions about team-mate Lamine Yamal after the teenager fell short of his typically elevated standards.
"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."
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