Ngumoha And Gavi Shine As Liverpool, Barcelona End Preseason Games In Style

First Match: Liverpool 4–1 Athletic Club
At around 18:00 BST, Liverpool opened the evening with a dominant 4–1 win. Teenager Rio Ngumoha curled home in the 2nd minute, then provided an assist for Darwin Núñez’s strike in the 5th. An own goal by Athletic goalkeeper Álex Padilla and a goal from Harvey Elliott sealed the comfortable victory in front of 59,774 fans.

Second Match: Liverpool 3–2 Athletic Club
Later that night, Liverpool triumphed again with fresh line‑ups for both sides. Mohamed Salah opened scoring from a Hugo Ekitiké assist, and Cody Gakpo scored twice. Athletic’s Gorka Guruzeta pulled one back, but the Reds prevailed 3–2. Salah spurned a penalty that could have made it safer. Official reviews noted two Liverpool goals came from offside positions, and criticism was levelled at the lack of VAR.

Tribute to Diogo Jota

Both fixtures featured emotional tributes in the 20th minute to late forward Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, who tragically died in July. Fans rose to applaud and chants echoed around Anfield. Liverpool legends and Athletic officials also paid homage before kickoff.

Tactical & Squad Review
Under Arne Slot, Liverpool rotated heavily across both games to evaluate emerging talent. Sixteen‑year‑old Rio Ngumoha impressed most, showing poise and creativity. Other young standouts included Ben Doak, Mac Allister, Trey Nyoni and Luca Stephenson. Athletic Club used the double‐header to test squad depth but came up short.

Daegu FC vs FC Barcelona (Daegu, South Korea)

Final Tour Match: Daegu FC 0–5 Barcelona
FC Barcelona wrapped up their Asia preseason tour with a commanding 5–0 win over Daegu FC at Daegu Stadium, in front of a modest crowd. Gavi got the opener in the 21st minute, added a second from a stunning chip just before half‑time. Robert Lewandowski headed in Barça’s second goal in between. In the second half, Tony Fernández scored from a Dani Olmo pass, and Marcus Rashford netted his first goal for the club after coming on at halftime.

Perfect End to Tour
With this victory, Barça completed their Asian tour with three wins: after previous successes against Vissel Kobe and FC Seoul, the Daegu result made it a perfect run. The visit was marked by long travel, heat, and a few fitness concerns, but overall delivered well‑controlled football and tactical clarity.

Standout Performers

• Gavi: Man of the match with two excellent goals and a commanding midfield presence (rated 9.0).
• Lamine Yamal: Unplayable on his wing; sensational dribbles and a key assist (also rated 9.0).
• Toni Fernández: The academy graduate scored in his cameo and impressed with his movement.
• Marcus Rashford: Scored his first goal for Barça after replacing Cubarsí at halftime—a confident finish from the edge of the box.

Manager’s Notes
Coach Hansi Flick praised the tour as one of the most important preseason phases, highlighting training intensity and experimenting with squad options. He noted the injury to Pau Cubarsí, a knock to the knee, but confirmed it was not serious. Rashford expressed optimism about finalizing his registration soon.

Both European giants delivered strong messages ahead of the 2025–26 season: Liverpool showcased youth and flexibility under Arne Slot, while Barcelona ended in emphatic fashion on the back of starlets and new signings under Flick. With the Community Shield and Joan Gamper Trophy upcoming, both squads appear well‑shaped for the challenges ahead.