Vissel Kobe v FC Barcelona: Football is back

Football is back after an absence of 62 days for Hansi Flick’s team following their final game of the 2024/25 season against Athletic Club in San Mamés. The wait is over as the first game of preseason in 2025/26 is upon us with Barça in Japan to take on Vissel Kobe in the first friendly of their Asian Tour. The game, along with the two fixtures to come on South Korea, and the Gamper Trophy game against Como 1907, can be seen live on the Club’s official website and official application as well as on its YouTube Membership channel. 

The game in Kobe comes on Sunday, kick off 7pm local time, 12pm CEST. The domestic treble winners from last season have been back at work for two weeks and the matches on the preseason tour will serve to sharpen the team’s fitness with results not the main priority, 

Possible debuts 

One of the highlights of the game against Vissel could be debuts for new boys Joan Garcia, Roony Bardghji abd Marcus Rashford. 

The fans will also be keen to see established stars such as Pedri, Lamine Yamal, Olmo, Lewandowski and Raphinha in action as well as young talents from Barça Atlètic with the likes of Diego Kochen, Jofre Torrents, Dro, Toni Fernández and Guille Fernández all in Japan with the squad. One players who is on the trip but will not be featuring on Sunday is midfielder Marc Bernal who is still waiting for the all clear from medical staff after his long injury lay off. 

Another ‘new face’ on Sunday will be the new Barça kit, released over a month ago to great acclaim. Against Vissel Kobe the players will get the chance to wear it for the first time as the 2025/26 kicks off in style. 

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