Three talking points as Barcelona dismantle Daegu FC 5-0 in pre-season clash | OneFootball

It was a clinical performance from FC Barcelona as they cruised past Daegu FC 5-0 in their final pre-season friendly of the Asian tour. The scoreline could have been much uglier if only the Catalan club were more clinical with their finishing in the second half.

A brace from Gavi, along with goals from Robert Lewandowski, Toni Fernandez, and Marcus Rashford, were sufficient for Hansi Flick’s men to end their tour on a high. The German coach switched some things up today, but the team was efficient in both halves.

One more big positive for Barcelona against the South Korean side was that they finally managed to keep a clean sheet. Defensively, there were some concerns in previous games, but the high-line performed just fine on this occasion.

With all this in mind, here are three talking points from Sempre Barca after Barcelona’s 5-0 win over Daegu FC in the pre-season friendly.

1. It was Gavi’s pre-season

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No Barcelona player had a better pre-season than Gavi, and boy, didn’t he need it! The young Spaniard copped a lot of unwanted criticism last season, and people quickly forgot just how good he was before his ACL injury.

Hansi Flick chose to ease the young midfielder back and not throw him into the deep end. The German coach didn’t have the necessity to do that with a number of talented options in his ranks, and it is safe to say that it worked out for the best.

In the three pre-season games so far, Gavi has played football at a different level. All his attributes as a midfielder have been on show, and he ended up being Barcelona’s leading goalscorer of the Asian tour with three goals in three games.

Gavi has grabbed the bull by its horns and forced his way into contention ahead of the 2025/26 season. Don’t be surprised to see Hansi Flick use him much more as a starter, and the Spaniard will be hoping to build on this good start.

2. Lamine Yamal had a ridiculous game

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Even by Lamine Yamal’s sky-high standards, what he did against Daegu was out of this world. Every time the Spanish teenager attacked with the ball at his feet, it looked like he was dribbling past training cones.

“The Spaniard gave the South Korean defenders one of the toughest outings of their careers. He looked unstoppable during the 45 minutes he played, and despite scoring a brace in the previous game, this was arguably his best display yet.

What’s scary about Lamine is how much faster and sharper he looked during this tour. He seems ominously in form, and if pre-season is any indication, the 18-year-old could be on track for an even better season than the last.

There must be something about a right-winger wearing the No. 10 jersey at Barcelona. They just look unstoppable. Let’s see how the young Spaniard performs in the upcoming campaign.

3. Dro and Toni impress

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If Dro had his moment in the sun against Vissel Kobe, Toni Fernandez certainly seized his against Daegu. The former started the match, while the latter came on at half-time, taking up a role on the left wing.

Toni, a natural right-winger, was tasked with a Raphinha-esque role on the left. Despite being out of position, he showed impressive technical ability and tactical awareness, linking up seamlessly with Jofre Torrents, Marcus Rashford, and Dani Olmo.

Dro, on the other hand, was deployed as the #10. He demonstrated excellent spatial awareness, operating between the lines with intelligence. His touches, flicks, and one-touch passing were a joy to watch and highlighted his creative instincts.

Both players are immensely talented and have the potential to become first-team regulars at Barcelona. It now remains to be seen what kind of role Hansi Flick has in mind for them this upcoming season.