FC Barcelona will take to the Seoul World Cup Stadium this Thursday with their gala XI to face the local team, managed by Kim Gi-dong. Hansi Flick makes five changes compared to the lineup that played the first half last Sunday against Vissel Kobe, with the returns of Jules Koundé and Robert Lewandowski being the main novelties.
Both the Frenchman and the Pole started on the bench in Japan, with Eric García and Ferran Torres as the starting right-back and center forward, respectively. The defender was the one who made the best use of his minutes, scoring the first Barça goal of the Asian tour.
Ronald Araujo, Frenkie de Jong and Dani Olmo are also in the starting lineup. The first replaces Iñigo Martínez as Pau Cubarsí's partner in the center of the defense, while the Dutchman regains the pivot position for Gavi. Olmo, on the other hand, will be an attacking midfielder instead of Fermín López, who against Vissel played the first half as a left winger, with Raphinha in the middle.
The 'LRL' returns to action with Barça on the Asian tour
For their part, Joan García in goal, Cubarsí and Balde in defense, Pedri in midfield and Lamine Yamal alongside Rafa in attack repeat in the XI. The player from Mataró and the Brazilian once again form the offensive trident of Barça together with Lewandowski, the fearsome 'LRL' that, in 24/25, scored 94 of the 173 Barça goals in 60 matches (54.33%).
Balde, for his part, remains as left-back, while Pedri continues as the team's brain in midfield. In the second half, it is likely that Hansi Flick will completely change the XI, as he did in the friendly in Kobe.
- (#01) Joan García (G.)
- (#23) Jules Koundé
- (#02) Pau Cubarsí
- (#04) Ronald Araujo
- (#03) Alejandro Balde
- (#21) Frenkie de Jong
- (#08) Pedri
- (#10) Lamine Yamal
- (#20) Dani Olmo
- (#11) Raphinha
- (#09) Robert Lewandowski
Rashford and Bardghji, again substitutes
In that sense, the other two reinforcements of Barcelona for the 25/26, Marcus Rahsford and Roony Bardghji, again start from the bench. Both added good minutes in the first friendly of the preseason, with the Swede being the author of the second Barça goal.
The Englishman, on the other hand, barely played for just over half an hour, due to the small amount of training he had accumulated since his arrival at the club. The other goalscorer on Japanese soil, 'Dro' Fernández, will also be ready for a new opportunity in the second half.
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