Raphinha’s moustache became the subject of a light-hearted exchange with referee Ortiz Arias before Barcelona’s 2-0 win over Athletic Club at Spotify Camp Nou on Thursday.
The amusing moment occurred during the pre-match coin toss, with footage recorded by the referee’s camera capturing Ortiz Arias complimenting the Brazil international.
“I like your moustache,” the official could be heard telling Raphinha in the video.
The exchange provided an informal start to an important fixture for the Catalan side, who were looking to maintain their perfect record at the beginning of their La Liga campaign.
Raphinha later ensured the attention was focused on his football as well as his appearance, opening the scoring in the 37th minute. The forward created the opportunity for himself by dribbling past the visiting goalkeeper before finishing to put Barcelona ahead.
Athletic Club remained in the contest for much of the second half, but Barcelona eventually made the result secure through Fermin Lopez. He scored in the 82nd minute to complete a 2-0 victory for the home side.
The result means Barcelona have won both of their opening league matches. Their title defence began with an emphatic 5-0 victory over Elche in the second round of the competition.
Barcelona did not play in the opening round because several of their leading players had been involved in the later stages of the 2026 World Cup. A number of the club’s players had formed the backbone of the Spain squad at the tournament, where Spain claimed the world title by beating Argentina 1-0 in the final.
The victory over Athletic Club therefore continued Barcelona’s strong start as they seek to defend their league crown, while Raphinha’s goal added another notable contribution to his side’s opening fixtures.
The pre-match exchange was filmed from the referee’s perspective and quickly stood out from the build-up to the game. Rather than a tactical discussion or a formal introduction, the brief conversation centred on the Brazilian winger’s distinctive moustache.
Ortiz Arias’ comment came while the two captains and the match officials were completing the customary coin toss, shortly before the players began the contest at Spotify Camp Nou.
Despite the relaxed moment before kick-off, Barcelona produced a controlled performance after taking the lead. Raphinha’s individual finish gave them the advantage, and Fermin Lopez’s late strike removed any prospect of a late Athletic Club recovery.
The final score also preserved Barcelona’s 100% record after two matches and gave the reigning champions another early boost in their attempt to retain the La Liga title.
