Barcelona kicked off their 2025 pre-season tour in style with a 3-1 victory over Japanese side Vissel Kobe, marking the beginning of their preparations for the upcoming 2025/2026 campaign.
A major highlight from the match was the first appearance of England international Marcus Rashford in a Barcelona shirt, having been included in the squad for their Asian tour. The Spanish champions, who edged out Real Madrid to claim the La Liga title last season, are looking to build momentum under new manager Hansi Flick.
The Catalan giants continue their tour in Asia with upcoming fixtures against South Korean sides FC Seoul on July 31 and Daegu on August 4. These matches are expected to provide further opportunities for Flick to integrate new players and fine-tune tactics ahead of a competitive season.
Barcelona will wrap up their pre-season with a return to Spain for a high-profile friendly against Serie A outfit Como, managed by former Barça midfielder Cesc Fà bregas — a reunion that adds a nostalgic edge to their final warm-up game.
With domestic and European titles in their sights, Barcelona’s relatively light but strategic pre-season schedule could serve as the ideal springboard for success in 2025/2026.
