Three takeaways from FC Seoul 3-7 Barcelona | OneFootball

A 7-3 scoreline headlined Barcelona’s second pre-season game on their Asia tour as they demolished local favourites FC Seoul in South Korea on Thursday.

The Catalans took a quick 2-0 lead on the day after quickfire goals from Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal, but soon allowed the hosts to equalise.

Lamine Yamal, however, found a late goal in the half to ensure Hansi Flick’s side kept the lead.

After the break, however, a completely different Barcelona turned up and stole the game away from FC Seoul’s grasp. Goals from Andreas Christensen, Gavi and a brace from Ferran Torres took the score to seven for Barcelona.

The hosts did pull one goal back in the 85th minute, but the game was already settled at that point.

Barça Universal brings you three takeaways from FC Seoul 3-7 Barcelona.

Fringe team shows more character

As good as Barcelona looked in the opening half with Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, Lamine Yamal, Pedri and Co. on the field, the fringe lineup that played after the break significantly outperformed them.

With a long and hectic season ahead, labelling players as starters and fringe names may well be unfair, for each member of the squad will prove equally valuable. Yet, every player who played after the break had a case to make, and they did so convincingly.

If each half of the game is accounted for individually, the second period ended 4-1 in the Catalans’ favour while the first half was a narrow 3-2. To have usual substitutes pull off such a display in pre-season, needless to say, is as encouraging as it gets.

Andreas Christensen shone in defence with a surprising centre-back partner in Gerard Martin, who looked comfortable in the department. Jofre Torrents made a strong case to see regular minutes at left-back, while Hector Fort also impressed with his movement.

Gavi was a standout in midfield and controlled the play with every buildup passing via him for over half an hour. Fermin Lopez put in a performance magnitudes better than his show against Vissel Kobe, and was critical in the playmaking.

Roony Bardghji had a more silent game than last time, albeit still impressing with his movement in tight spaces and neat tricks. Ferran Torres scored a brace while Marcus Rashford racked up his first assist as a Barcelona player.

Defence needs further testing

Flick needs to find a way to tighten his defensive unit. (Photo by Paul Miller/Getty Images)

As good as the team were scoring seven goals in ninety minutes, the manager will reflect critically on the three goals conceded as he must. It may be pre-season, but the defence has not looked convincing after all.

Barcelona’s high defensive line cost the team heavily in the UEFA Champions League last season, and the manager was expected to bring a new dynamic to the table this term. The first two games, however, have seen defenders repeat individual errors.

Pau Cubarsi, for all his brilliant ball-playing ability, has looked error-prone in both games so far. At this point, in fact, it’s safe to say that Andreas Christensen has been the squad’s best player in the position.

The Cubarsi-Inigo partnership in the first game looked shakily decent, but far from convincing.

The manager, thus, may well be forced to test out new defensive combinations before the season begins to identify which two of his four centre-backs complement each other the best and bring out the most well-rounded pairing.

In good rhythm

The biggest takeaway from Barcelona’s performance on Thursday, as a carry forward from the previous game, is that the team looks very sharp for a side still in a second pre-season game.

So far, Hansi Flick’s side have shown great cohesion across the park, a fresh sense of attacking intent and a serious sense of stability through the middle, something one would not expect so early on in the season.

The additions of Joan Garcia, Marcus Rashford and Roony Bardghji have all elevated the level of the squad, and all three players looked good once more on Thursday to provide the manager an assurance that they can be valuable.

There is, thus, a huge sense of optimism heading towards the official start of the season that is just around the corner. Barcelona are in good rhythm, and the win over FC Seoul only reinforced that idea.