FC Barcelona kicked off their 2025 preseason in style, overcoming Japan’s Vissel Kobe with an exciting 3-1 victory at the NOEVIR Stadium in Kobe. The match, which marked the beginning of the Hansi Flick era on the sidelines, offered fans a mix of youthful energy and experienced control.
The first half saw Barcelona dominate possession, and their efforts were rewarded in the 33rd minute when defender Eric García opened the scoring. Latching onto a well-timed delivery, García calmly slotted the ball past the goalkeeper to give the visitors the lead.
However, Vissel Kobe responded quickly. Just nine minutes later, Taisei Miyashiro pounced on a defensive lapse and equalized with a precise finish following an assist from Rikuto Hirose, ensuring the first half ended 1-1.
With wholesale changes made at halftime—common in preseason matches—Barça introduced several young players looking to impress. And they didn’t disappoint.
All eyes were on new signing Roony Bardghji, and the Swedish-Moroccan wonderkid lived up to the hype. Introduced at halftime, Roony made an immediate impact with his flair and confidence on the ball. In the 77th minute, he seized his moment.
Receiving a smart pass from Robert Lewandowski, Bardghji curled a sublime effort into the top corner to give Barcelona the lead once again. The crowd erupted, and the Barça bench rose in unison to celebrate what could be the first of many goals for the teenager in Blaugrana colors.
Just ten minutes later, another La Masia product, Pedro Fernández, added gloss to the scoreline. The youngster combined beautifully with João Félix in midfield before rifling home a low shot into the bottom corner to seal the 3-1 win.
The match was also notable for Marcus Rashford’s debut. Although he was substituted after just 30 minutes, coach Hansi Flick assured fans post-match that it was a precautionary move due to his recent return from injury.
Speaking after the final whistle, Flick praised the team’s performance. “It was a strong display from both the senior players and the young talents. It’s still early days, but I’m very encouraged,” he said.
The win marks a confident start to what promises to be an exciting preseason for Barcelona. The squad now heads to Seoul, South Korea, where they will face FC Seoul on July 30 in the next leg of their Asian tour.
With rising stars like Bardghji and Fernández grabbing headlines and experienced names like Lewandowski and de Jong offering stability, the signs point to a balanced and motivated squad ahead of the new season.
One game down, many challenges ahead—but for now, Flick’s Barcelona has started with fireworks.