FC Basel 2-5 FC Barcelona: Five at Sankt Jakob-Park
FC Bsrcelona continued their preseason preparations with a convincing 5-2 win over FC Basel at St. Jakob Park this Sunday, in a game that combined valuable minutes for Hansi Flick's more established players with opportunities for several youngsters and new faces.
Adeyemi marked his first Barça start with a goal and an assist, Abdelkarim also found the net, while Lamine Yamal marked his return to action after the World Cup with a converted penalty and an assist, and Bisiwu struck twice in the closing stages. So many great stories just a week away from the first competitive fixture.
Flick named a much-changed starting XI, with several of the players who had gone furthest at the World Cup initially on the bench, although Anthony Gordon, a semi-finalist with England, was among the starters in his first ever game for the Catalans.
Barça dominated possession from the early stages and created the better chances, with Gordon lively in attack and Raphinha and Fermín both threatening the Swiss goal. Christensen also came close when he met a Fermín corner around the midway point of the first half, sending his effort narrowly wide.
The breakthrough arrived in the 34th minute and belonged to one of the afternoon's main protagonists. Adeyemi marked his first ever start in the best possible fashion, finishing Raphinha's excellent cross with his left foot to put the visitors ahead. Basel responded two minutes before half-time, however, Doucouré pouncing on a rebound to send the sides into the break level at 1-1.
There were more new faces after the restart, with Szczesny, Kounde, Pesquer and Abdelkarim all introduced. The latter needed only a few minutes to make an impact, turning in Adeyemi's cross after the German had burst down the left to restore the blaugrana lead. Barça continued to control proceedings and Flick was able to gradually introduce more of his World Cup contingent, with Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo making their first preseason appearances in the 65th minute and Pau Cubarsí following shortly afterwards. Brian Fariñas was also handed his first minutes of the preseason.
Lamine was soon at the heart of the action. When Kounde was brought down inside the area in the 80th minute, the winger took responsibility from the spot and converted to make it 3-1. Basel were awarded a penalty of their own shortly afterwards when Fariñas brought down Rüegg, with Olaigbe converting to reduce the deficit to 3-2.
But Barça responded emphatically in the closing minutes, with new Belgian signing Bisiwu providing the perfect finish to the afternoon. Having only recently entered the fray alongside Ebrima Tunkara, he produced a stunning finish into the top corner in the 89th minute before adding another in stoppage time, tapping home after Lamine Yamal had won possession and supplied the assist to complete the 5-2 victory.
All in all, another productive preseason outing for Flick's side, both in terms of the result and the individual stories. Adeyemi celebrated his first Barça goal and also provided an assist, Abdelkarim and Bisiwu made the most of their opportunities, and several of the World Cup players returned to action. Barça now move on to their final preseason test, against Al-Ahly in the Festa del Gamper Estrella Damm on 19 August.