In a thrilling pre-season friendly at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, FC Barcelona delivered a commanding 7-3 victory over FC Seoul, showcasing their attacking prowess and tactical flexibility.
The match, part of Barcelona’s Asian tour, provided valuable insights into the team’s preparation for the 2025-26 season under Hansi Flick’s management.
Despite a competitive first half where FC Seoul fought back to level the score at 2-2, Barcelona’s depth and quality shone through, with standout performances from young talents and seasoned players alike.
Here are five key lessons learned from this high-scoring encounter.
1. Lamine Yamal’s Impact as Number 10:
Lamine Yamal, wearing the iconic number 10, showed early promise by attempting to dribble past defenders on the right edge of the box within the first three minutes.
This suggests Barcelona is testing his ability to influence games in a creative, central role, providing insight into his readiness to take on significant responsibility in the attacking third.
2. Alejandro Balde’s Attacking Threat:
Alejandro Balde was noted for staying high up the pitch on the left flank in the second minute, indicating an aggressive role in the attack.
Barcelona likely learned more about how his overlapping runs can stretch defenses and create opportunities, refining their strategy for utilizing full-backs in offensive phases.
3. Midfield Dynamics with Pedri and Frenkie de Jong:
With Pedri attempting a shot early on and Frenkie de Jong in the starting lineup, Barcelona likely assessed how this midfield duo controls possession and transitions play.
The early dominance in possession (noted in the second minute) suggests they are gelling well, offering insights into their partnership’s effectiveness against compact defenses.
4. Defensive Solidity with Young Center-Backs:
The starting center-back pairing of Jules Kounde, Pau Cubarsi, and Ronald Araujo indicates a focus on building defensive cohesion with a mix of youth and experience.
The clean sheet at least until the third minute suggests early success, allowing Barcelona to evaluate their ability to handle FC Seoul’s attacking threats, including players like Jesse Lingard.
5. Integration of New and Loan Players:
Although Marcus Rashford, a recent loan signing, was set to come off the bench, his presence in the squad highlights Barcelona’s intent to integrate new players.
The match provided an opportunity to assess how substitutes like Rashford adapt to the team’s style, offering valuable data on squad depth and versatility for the upcoming season.
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