The Koeman era at FC Barcelona begins with a victory against Nastic
Koeman fielded two completely different XIs in either half but stuck with his 4-2-3-1 system
FC BARCELONA
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GIMNÀSTIC TARRAGONA
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FC BARCELONA
Neto, Sergi Roberto, Piqué, Lenglet, Jordi Alba, Busquets, Aleñá, Pedri, Griezmann, Messi y Dembélé. También jugaron Iñaki Peña, Semedo, Araujo, Cuenca, De Jong, Riqui Puig, Trincao, Coutinho, Braithwaite, Junior y Konrad.
NÀSTIC
Wilfred, Albarrán, Trillers, Rueda, Joan Oriol, Ribelles, Brugué, Tienza, Bonilla, Amán y Gerard Oliva. También jugaron Pedro, Gonzi, Pol B., Fran Carbia, Lasso, Grifell, Guiu, Lucas, Fran Miranda y Pol Prats.
GOLES
1-0, Dembélé (5'). 2-0, Griezmann, de penalti (18'). 2-1, Bonilla (30'). 3-1, Coutinho, de penalti (51').
ÁRBITRO
Albert Ávalos Martos (catalán). T.A.: Sergi Roberto (21')/Brugué (13'), Bonilla (21').
INCIDENCIAS
Partido amistoso de pretemporada disputado en el Estadi Johan Cruyff a puerta cerrada.
It's been a busier than usual summer for FC Barcelona with many changes - some voluntary, others not - and various matters that still need to be resolved. Yet whilst all that is going on, Ronald Koeman needs to form a new side for the upcoming season and it got off the best start against Nastic at the Johan Cruyff stadium. New signings Pedri and Trincao were given their first appearances for the club whilst former 'fixes' Coutinho and Dembele also returned to the team. Lionel Messi was pulling the strings.
Koeman deployed the expected 4-2-3-1 system which saw Busquets and Aleña forming the double pivot. Pedri sat behind the main striker Griezmann with Messi and Dembele on the flanks.
The opening goal came when Dembele drifted in from the left and found himself in space. Sergi Roberto's cross went through Pedri and landed at the French winger's feet and he didn't fluff his lines. A great start to the Koeman era just five minutes in.
Barça took firm control of the match and penned Nastic in their own half. Messi found Roberto who tested the visiting goalkeeper but couldn't add tot he scoreline.
MESSI HANDS PENALTY DUTY TO GRIEZMANN
It didn't take long for the second goal to arrive though. Pique was brought down in the box and up stepped Griezmann, not Messi, to make it 2-0. Another small detail as to why Messi, and his faith in you, is a crucial part of Barça's success. Griezmann had failed from the spot this past week whilst on international duty but Leo backed him to score this time around.
A brief moment of calmness was enough for Nastic, overwhelmed until that point, to reduce the scoreline. Bonilla beat Neto after no one closed him down. A little reminder of the work ahead for the team.
Nastic also grabbed an equaliser on the brink of half-time but Neto saved Barça's blushes. But this is what preseason and friendly matches are for, to iron out the errors and lapses in concentration.
A NEW XI
Koeman opted to change his entire XI for the second half which saw a debut for Trincao and the return of Coutinho following his Champions League triumph with Bayern Munich. Riqui Puig, Araujo and Cuenca brought a youthful look to the side which also included De Jong. Nelson Semedo, who has been linked with a move away again recently, was handed the captain's armband.
It was the full back's cross which drew a handball from the Nastic defender. Coutinho stepped up and made it 3-1.
Coutinho looked good on his return, as did the debuting Trincao, with Riqui Puig continuing him incredible progression in recent months. The former two linked up well down the right-hand side. American starlet Konrad de la Fuente also got 45 minutes to show his talent on the left of attack.
There's still work to be done for Koeman, although he knew this already, but there are plenty of options available for him ahead of the new season.
