Three talking points as Barcelona demolish FC Seoul 7-3 in pre-season friendly | OneFootball

FC Barcelona are well and truly into their pre-season preparations ahead of the 2025/26 season. Having beaten Japanese side Vissel Kobe 3-1 in the first friendly, the team travelled to South Korea to face FC Seoul in a bid to continue their build-up to the new season.

Hansi Flick named a gala XI against Seoul with most of the first-choice players taking their place on the field, with the exception of Inigo Martinez, who missed out on the game altogether. Another first-team player who did not feature was Eric Garcia.

Barcelona took an early 2-0 lead in the game, but Seoul managed to equalise with two goals. Just before the half-time break, Lamine Yamal scored a wonder goal to give Flick’s men a 3-2 lead going ahead of the second half.

A new XI emerged in the second 45, and they were rampant against a helpless Seoul outfit. Andreas Christensen, Gavi, and Ferran Torres (twice) all managed to get on the scoresheet to hand Barcelona a 7-3 win in their second pre-season friendly.

A lot of things transpired in the game between Barcelona and FC Seoul, and here are three talking points from Sempre Barca following the 7-1 victory.

1. Lamine Yamal announces himself as Barcelona’s new No. 10

Try stopping Lamine Yamal! (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)

There is something very poignant and nostalgic about a Barcelona right-winger wearing the No. 10 on his back dazzling through defenses and grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck in a way very few other players can.

Lamine Yamal, against FC Seoul, announced himself to the world as Barcelona’s new No. 10. His first game against Kobe was below-par by his own lofty standards, but the Spaniard walked away as the best player on the pitch across both sides in the first half.

It was the teenager’s shot that bounced back off the bar, which was bundled home by Robert Lewandowski for the first goal. Lamine, shortly after, scored the second goal of the game with a clever near-post finish.

The icing on the cake was the goal that he scored just before half-time. Dani Olmo found the youngster with a sumptuous pass, and he took a touch to cut back onto his favoured left foot, sat down the defender, and rifled the ball into the far post.

Lamine is here, and he is ready to conquer!

2. Andreas Christensen – What a player!

What a moment that was, for Andreas Christensen. (Photo Courtesy: The official website of FC Barcelona)

Andreas Christensen has been through what can only be described as injury hell over the last 12 months. His future at the club has come into question, and he has seen himself fall down the pecking order at a club where he was one of the stars just a couple of seasons ago.

The Dane would have been forgiven for coming into this pre-season with a lot of pressure with a point to prove, but in these two games so far, he has shown yet again that he is arguably Barcelona’s most complete defender when fit.

The ex-Chelsea centre-back picked the ball up around 35 yards from goal and struck a shot so cleanly, it whistled past the opposition goalkeeper’s outstretched hand. It was a moment that the Dane so badly deserved.

Even apart from that, Christensen looked very sharp defensively and very composed with his passing as always. His IQ makes him the perfect candidate to play in Flick’s high-line, and there is no denying his importance to this team anymore.

3. Jofre Torrents is here to stay

If there is one thing that has been abundantly clear by watching Barcelona in these first two pre-season games, it is the fact that Jofre Torrents is much more suited to being Alejandro Balde’s backup than Gerard Martin.

If Vissel Kobe was the trailer, FC Seoul was the main picture. The Spanish youngster came on for his senior counterpart in the second half, with Gerard Martin playing as a central defender, and it is safe to say that he did not put a foot wrong.

Torrents was very good going forward, linked up very well with Marcus Rashford on the left, and more often than not, he was accurate with his crossing. It felt much deserved when he got the assist for Ferran Torres’ first goal.

Stylistically, the La Masia graduate looks like he would thrive in Hansi Flick’s setup, and this might be the season he makes the step up to the first team. The German coach seems to trust him enough and let’s wait and see how his career develops in a Blaugrana jersey.