Marcus Rashford opened his Barcelona account with a goal in their 5-0 pre-season victory over Daegu FC, but it was Gavi who stole the spotlight with a brace and a dominating performance. The 20-year-old midfielder, recovering from a long injury layoff, showcased his brilliance in the midfield, helping Barcelona maintain their perfect pre-season record.
Barcelona continued their perfect pre-season tour of Asia with a commanding 5-0 victory over Daegu FC, with Marcus Rashford marking his first goal for the Blaugrana. However, it was Gavi who truly stole the show, scoring a brilliant brace and dominating the midfield in a standout performance.
Barcelona’s early play showed flashes of their world-class offensive talent, with Raphinha and Lamine Yamal providing the creative spark. It was Gavi who broke the deadlock in the 21st minute, taking a long-range shot after a brilliant run from Yamal. The second goal followed shortly after, with Robert Lewandowski finishing off a pinpoint cross from Gerard Martin to double Barcelona’s lead.
The first half was capped by another Gavi goal in injury time, when Jules Kounde found him with a perfectly weighted pass. The Spanish midfielder showed incredible composure, chipping Daegu’s goalkeeper from a tight angle to complete his brace.
As the second half unfolded, Hansi Flick made several substitutions, including bringing on Rashford for his third appearance since his loan move from Manchester United. It didn’t take long for the Englishman to make his mark, as he bagged his first Barcelona goal. Eric Garcia’s pass found Rashford in the box, and the loanee made no mistake, sweeping home a calm finish to make it 4-0.
The final goal of the evening came from 17-year-old Toni Fernandez, who coolly slotted the ball home after being found by Dani Olmo. Despite the dominant performance, Daegu’s goalkeeper Han Tae-hee was kept busy, making a series of impressive saves in the second half.
Gavi’s performance was especially noteworthy, as the 20-year-old demonstrated his growing fitness after a difficult 2024-25 season recovering from an ACL injury. His two goals and 95% passing accuracy illustrated his return to top form, and he remains one of the most exciting talents in Barcelona’s midfield.
Rashford, whose minutes have been carefully managed by Flick, looked sharp off the left-hand side and proved that he is settling in well at the club. His first goal for Barcelona will certainly help boost his confidence as he continues to adapt to his new environment.
While some of the younger Barcelona players like Roony Bardghji and Joan Garcia didn’t have standout performances, others like Toni Fernandez and Jofre Torrents continued to impress with their maturity and skill. Fernandez, in particular, caught the eye of Flick, who had considered bringing him into the first team at just 15 years old.
As Barcelona heads back to Catalonia, they will face Como in the Joan Gamper Trophy before shifting their focus to defending their La Liga title in the upcoming 2025-26 season.
