The Joan Gamper Trophy is traditionally Barcelona’s curtain-raiser to the new season, and the Catalans played their final pre-season friendly ahead of that clash last night against FC Basel.
The first-half of the game was rather tight and ended with both sides level with a 1-1 scoreline. Barcelona created the better chances, but Karim Adeyemi’s opener was crossed out by a Jean Doucoure banger.
After the break, however, Barcelona ran away with the game as Hamza Abdelkarim put them ahead with a lethal finish and Lamine Yamal made it 3-1 from the penalty spot.
Basel themselves earned a penalty soon after to make it 3-2, but young sensation Jesse Bisiwu scored twice in two minutes to put the icing on the cake and end the game with a 5-2 win.
Barça Universal brings you three takeaways from Basel 2-5 Barcelona.
Adyemi and Gordon impress
Anthony Gordon made his Barcelona debut. (Photo by Daniela Porcelli/Getty Images)
Both of Barcelona’s new attacking signings started last night against FC Basel, and while Karim Adeyemi has played in a few friendlies before, it was Anthony Gordon’s debut in a Barcelona shirt.
At a time when Barcelona’s centre-forward and attacking situation appears to be in a grey area, the duo delivered a performance that gave reason to be optimistic and provided assurance that both signings can be impactful.
Adeyemi started down the right flank and added verticality to Barcelona’s attack with bold take-ons and dribbles. His goal was a banger and his strong ball-striking was a feature that stood out throughout the game.
Interestingly, the player looked more threatening as a creative option once he shifted to the left-flank, and Hansi Flick will value the player’s ability to come good on both flanks. In fact, last night’s clash was a clear indicator that Adeyemi can fit well into the system.
Gordon, meanwhile, did not earn any goal contributions on his debut but looked promising in attack and with his work rate. The player added to the relentless press and was confident in his take-ons.
Most importantly, the Englishman looked comfortable in the system and it is clear that he will thrive under Hansi Flick as the season progresses.
A game of intensity
Barcelona played an intense game against FC Basel. (Photo by Daniela Porcelli/Getty Images)
Hansi Flick’s system at Barcelona has always been about relentless pressing and winning the ball back quickly after being dispossessed. Collective defence, on that front, has been the norm.
In that sense, what the team showed last night was impeccable, both from a discipline and a fitness standpoint.
Barcelona’s players across the park appeared physically prepared to put in the difficult shift and did not slack off from pressing at any point in the game.
For starters, the attacking lineup of Anthony Gordon, Karim Adeyemi, Raphinha and Fermin Lopez represented the peak of that style of football as they suffocated the opponents in their own box.
Even as the substitutions rolled in later in the game, the team kept that level of intensity and fitness up, and it is clear that the manager has transmitted his ideas well to the players.
Keeping the same levels of energy up throughout the season is easier said than done, but to begin with such intensity while still in pre-season speaks volumes about what one can expect from the side once the official season kicks off.
Two young stars shine
The biggest surprise in Hansi Flick’s starting lineup last night was the defensive midfield where Xavi Espart partnered Marc Bernal in the double pivot. While most would have had their money on Bernal standing out, it was his compatriot instead.
Espart was simply phenomenal for Barcelona last night, showing a sense of unreal calm, composure, clarity and finesse with every one of his touches.
His movements between the lines, ball progression, defensive contributions and creative passes in tight spaces made him stand out as one of Barcelona’s best players on the field. That in itself speaks volumes about what the player is capable of.
Espart has stood out in most of Barcelona’s pre-season so far, playing as a midfielder, a pivot, and even as a right-back. What he has shown so far is definitely enough to warrant a first-team role under Flick, and fans will be seeing a lot more of him as the campaign passes.
Meanwhile, another young talent who utilised his minutes last night was Jesse Bisiwu who came on for just 11 minutes and scored two goals, one of which was a banger.
The player’s positional awareness and ability to finish are genuinely underrated, and he may well end up being a part of the first-team dynamics this season instead of playing for the academy team.
Since arriving a few weeks ago, the 18-year-old Belgian sensation has been stealing headlines with Barcelona contemplating where to deploy him next season. His performance last night once again showed that he can be invaluable to Flick.