FC Barcelona is set to conclude its preseason tour of Asia on Monday, August 4, with a final friendly match against South Korean side Daegu FC. The game, held at Daegu Stadium, marks the last test for Hansi Flick’s squad before they return to Spain to prepare for their domestic campaign. The Catalan giants enter the match in formidable attacking form, having already scored 10 goals in their first two tour fixtures.
The Blaugrana began their tour with a 3-1 victory over Japan’s Vissel Kobe and followed it up with a thrilling 7-3 win against FC Seoul in South Korea. According to a preview on the club’s official website, Flick has used the tour to build fitness and assess his squad, frequently rotating the starting eleven at halftime in the previous games. This trend continued against Daegu, with the manager making several changes to the lineup. However, the attacking trio of Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski, and Raphinha remained untouched, suggesting Flick is keen on solidifying his offensive core ahead of the new season. Goalkeeper Joan Garcia retained his spot, while youngsters like Pedro ‘Dro’ Fernandez were given a starting opportunity, as reported by Barca Universal.
A key focus for Barcelona during this preseason has been the integration of new signing Marcus Rashford. The 27-year-old English forward, who joined on loan from Manchester United, is looking to make a significant impact. As noted by CBS Sports, Rashford demonstrated his potential during a successful loan spell with Aston Villa last season, where he scored four goals and provided six assists in 17 appearances, earning a recall to the England national team. His arrival adds depth and competition to the squad, a factor his teammate Raphinha sees as crucial. “The more competition we have, the better,” Raphinha told SPORT. “It means that one helps the other progress, and that is the most important thing if we want to win titles.”
While the attack has been prolific, the team has shown some defensive vulnerabilities, conceding four goals across the first two matches. The squad has also dealt with minor fitness concerns, with defender Iñígo Martinez and midfielder Fermín López unable to complete a recent training session. First-choice goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen did not travel with the team as he continues to recover from back surgery.
Barcelona entered the match as heavy favorites against a Daegu FC side that, according to Sports Illustrated, was winless in its last 12 matches. For fans worldwide, the match was made widely accessible. Following technical issues with a pay-per-view broadcast for the first friendly, the club decided to stream its remaining Asian tour games for free on its official YouTube channel (excluding South Korea). The match was also available on DAZN in several regions.
After the final whistle in Daegu, the team will travel back to Barcelona. Their next fixture is the Joan Gamper Trophy on August 10, where they will face Italian side Como, now coached by former Barça legend Cesc Fàbregas. Following this traditional home opener, Barcelona will begin their La Liga title defense with an away match against Mallorca on August 16.
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[…] of Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski, and Raphinha remained a consistent feature, as reported by Digital Trends Today. The team’s offensive output was impressive, netting 10 goals in their first two matches alone. […]