Barcelona Football Club has successfully concluded their tour of South Korea.
On August 4, Barcelona cruised to a dominant 5-0 victory over K League side Daegu FC in a preseason friendly held at Daegu Stadium in Suseong District, Daegu Metropolitan City.
Last season, Barcelona made a robust comeback, defeating archrivals Real Madrid four times and sweeping all domestic titles, La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup, to claim a domestic treble.
Strengthening the Squad and Sharpening Form
Determined not to rest on their laurels, Barça reinforced their squad during the summer break with three new signings. They also scheduled a series of high-intensity friendlies to build chemistry. Having already defeated Vissel Kobe and FC Seoul earlier in the tour, Barça continued their strong form against Daegu FC.
Gavi Shines, Lewandowski on Target
The match began with a missed one-on-one opportunity from Yamal, but he made amends in the 20th minute by setting up Gavi for the opening goal with a low cross from the edge of the box.
Just six minutes later, Martín surged down the left flank and squared it for Lewandowski, who calmly slotted home to double the lead. Early in the second half, a through ball from Kounde found Gavi in space, and he chipped it over the keeper to complete his brace, effectively sealing the win.
Rashford Opens Barça Account
In the 53rd minute, Dani Olmo and Rashford combined with a slick one-two before threading a pass to Fernández, who fired home Barça’s fourth goal.
In the 64th minute, García delivered a pinpoint cross into the box, and Rashford smashed in a well-taken finish, his first goal for the club. The match ended with a commanding 5-0 win for the Catalan side.
Rashford: “I’m Settling in Well”
Speaking after the match, Rashford expressed satisfaction with his first goal and optimism for the upcoming season: “It was a great preseason match, and we’re well prepared for the new campaign. I’m settling in quite well, getting used to the team and the coach. ”
“There are many top players at Barça, and I knew that before joining. The level here is high, and that’s precisely the intensity we need all season.”
Registration Unresolved, But Rashford Remains Calm
Although Rashford is eager to make his official La Liga debut, he faces a race against time, as Barcelona has yet to register him due to failing to meet La Liga’s salary cap requirements.
Despite the uncertainty, Rashford maintains his optimism and confidence in the resolution of the issue: “I’m not worried. That’s something the club needs to sort out, and I trust they will. My focus is on training and being ready for the start of the season.”
Barcelona has one more preseason friendly before officially kicking off its title defence on August 16 against Mallorca.
As the preseason draws to a close, Barcelona’s East Asia tour has showcased a team in sync with new signings finding their rhythm and veteran players maintaining form. The club appears well-prepared to launch another title-chasing campaign.
