Barcelona won its first exhibition game on Wednesday evening. In the Estadi Johan Cruyff, Ronald Koeman’s team was visited by fellow countryman Gimnàstic de Tarragona, which was defeated 4-0. Substitute Rey Manaj made an excellent impression with three hits. Sergiño Dest was given a starting spot and started from right-back, while the friendly match for Memphis Depay, who arrived this week, came too early. Frenkie de Jong was also not present yet.
In addition to Depay and De Jong, European Championship-goers Antoine Griezmann, Pedri, Sergio Busquets and Clément Lenglet are not yet part of the Catalan superpower. Lionel Messi, who recently conquered the Copa América with the Argentine team, will also not make playing minutes yet. The 34-year-old attacker is on holiday and has yet to reach a final agreement with Barcelona on a new contract. Yusuf Demir was recently taken over from Rapid Wien on a rental basis and was given a basic spot. Furthermore, the talents Jordi Escobar and Peque Polo were thrown to the lions by Koeman.
Dest was clearly looking forward to the exhibition game, as he already tried his luck in the ninth minute of play. After a nice passing movement, he rushed into the penalty area from the right and fired on the enemy goal, but the right back shot just over. In the remainder of the first company, Sergi Roberto and Miralem Pjanic, among others, contributed, but the opening goal was not found before half-time. Well became los Azulgrana helped into the saddle in the 38th minute. Puig was knocked down hard by Álex Quintanilla, who received a direct red card from Alejandro Ruiz.
Koeman changed his entire team at halftime, and eventually managed to lead his team to a big victory against ten men from Nàstic. After an hour of play it was mainly Rey Manaj who got it on the hips and made a flawless hat-trick. His first goal was the most beautiful: The striker from Albania turned away from his opponent, lashed out hard in the box and shot the 1-0 into the roof of the goal. Manaj made the 3-0 on a pass from Hiroki Abe and made the 4-0 from eleven meters. In between, Álex Collado (2-0) also put his name on the scoreboard.
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— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 21, 2021
Barcelona first half line-up: Neto, Dest, Pique, Umtiti, Balde, Pjanic, Sergi Roberto, Riqui Puig; Demir, Peque y Escobar
Barcelona second half line-up: Inaki Pena; Igor Gomes, Comas, Ramos Mingo, N’Diaye; Gavi, Matthew Pereira; Collado, Mortimer, Hiroki; Rey Manaj