Daegu 0-5 FC Barcelona: Another solid victory

FC Barcelona have completed a full house of victories on their Asian Tour, winning the third and final game in the most convincing fashion of all. They trounced K-League outfit Daegu 5-0 and doing so with the kind of football that has Culers worldwide hungrier than ever to see what this team is capable of doing when competitive games begin in what are now less than two weeks.

Gavi (2), Lewandowski, Toni Fernández and Rashford got the goals and the team will now be flying back to Catalonia to prepare for the Gamper against Como 1907 on Sunday.

Lamine on fire

Barça started so strong that an opening goal looked inevitable long before it arrived on 20 minutes. Every time Lamine Yamal got the ball things were happening and it came as no surprise to see him involved in the build-up, picking out the perfect pass for Gavi to fire home from the edge of the area.

The Lamine show was simply breathtaking. Looking even more confident than last season, and with an endless repertoire of tricks up his sleeve, he may have eclipsed all the attention, but young Dro Fernández was another standout performer in the first half. We have a lot to look forward in that youngster too.

All over before the break

It was champagne football all the way, the Catalans passing the ball around with exquisite ease, always intuitively knowing where each team-mate was waiting to receive the ball. The second goal came from a series of lightning quick passes that left the Korean defence stone cold, culminating with a killer pass from Gerard Martin that Robert Lewandowski stroked across the line.

While Seoul FC had put up an interesting fight in the first game in Korea, in this second there was only ever one team in it. Shortly before half-time, Gavi claimed his second of the day, his deftly placed chip confounding the home stopper to put a Barça victory beyond doubt with 45 minutes of the game still to go.

Lead extended

Hansi Flick fielded a totally different XI for the second half, more or less making the same changes as he made in the first two games of the tour. And despite the pouring rain we were again reminded of what incredible strength in depth this team has.

Toni Fernández extended the lead, with the combination between Dani Olmo and Marcus Rashford in the build-up being a juicy taste of things to come. The duo seem to have quickly developed a strong understanding, and several more chances would fall their way.

And it was with one of those that the English loanee netted goal number five, converting an Eric García assist to earn his first goal in the blaugrana jersey.

Tour comes to an end

Further goals could have come but didn’t, and the only negative to take from this game is an injury sustained by Pau Cubarsí close to the end. Hopefully it’s nothing major to worry about, but we’ll let you know as soon as an accurate assessment has been made.

So, just one more friendly to go before things kick off officially with the trip to Mallorca on August 16. From what we have seen on this Asian Tour, Barça are more than ready for it. Three games, three wins, fifteen goals and faultless performances from both old and new. Things are looking very promising indeed!

Click here to read article