As for Vissel Kobe, they have a bit of a break before returning to J1 League action. After Sunday’s friendly, the Japanese league leaders face Toyo University in the Emperor’s Cup on August 6 before resuming their league campaign against Machida Zelvia four days later.

Yes, it was Barca’s first minutes of pre-season, but Vissel Kobe were slap bang in the middle of their league season, and are currently top of the league whilst chasing a three-peat of titles. However, only in the last few minutes of the first half when they scored the equaliser, had the hosts shown anything like the urgency required.

Barcelona kicked off their pre-season with a 3-1 win over Vissel Kobe on Sunday in Japan, and the first impressions from the players and new arrivals could not be better.The Catalans arrived at a