FC Barcelona’s coach, Hansi Flick, recently fielded a strong starting lineup to overcome FC Seoul in the second match of their Asian tour. The German manager is showcasing a deep squad, evident in his selections.
In their preseason opener held in Japan against Vissel Kobe, where they won 3-1, Flick deployed what can be described as a lineup that could competently compete in official matches. Goalkeeper Joan Garcia was the only new face, while new signings Marcus Rashford and Roony Bardghji contributed in the second half, with the highlight being young talent Pedro Fernández ‘Dro’ scoring a notable goal.
For Thursday’s match, the second of the tour and the first in South Korea, Flick once again opted for a consistent approach, strengthening the lineup further. Garcia retains his position in goal, alongside defenders Koundé and Araujo; Frenkie de Jong and Olmo are starting for the first time, while prolific striker Robert Lewandowski leads the attack. Consequently, Araujo will serve as the team captain.
Notably, the match will take place in the sweltering conditions of Seoul, with anticipated temperatures hovering around 30 degrees Celsius at kickoff (8 PM local time).
Barcelona showcased a solid performance in their opener in Kobe, and fans can look forward to interesting developments in Seoul, especially from new additions. Garcia’s solid goalkeeping performance stood out despite conceding a goal. Rashford displayed excellent movement on the left, while Roony exhibited dynamism, scoring a well-coordinated goal with Lewandowski.
A special feature of this game is that the FC Barcelona will debut their striking new away kit, which features a golden and purple color scheme adorned with the ‘Black Mamba’ logo of Kobe Bryant on the front. This kit is expected to perform well in sales, having already garnered a positive reception.
The match presents a promising opportunity for the team to enhance their performance and build chemistry ahead of the competitive season, especially under the challenging weather conditions in Seoul, serving as a valuable preparation experience.