A goal in each half from Tammy Abraham and Ross Barkley earned Chelsea a win over Barcelona in Saitama today.
With the Spanish side a week or two behind Chelsea in their pre-season preparations, Frank Lampard demanded energy and high pressing from his side, and that was in immediate evidence despite the evening humidity.
Barcelona gave a first start to £107m signing Antoine Griezmann, and he combined well with Ousmane Dembele to threaten early on before a wayward pass from Sergio Busquets gifted Chelsea the lead.
Abraham gratefully took advantage, skipping past goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen to roll home the opener.
Both teams made a raft of changes at half-time, and more in a fragmented second half, but Chelsea upped the pace again. One of their substitutes, Ross Barkley, was a purposeful presence and he provided the second goal with a curling left-foot effort from 20 yards.
Ivan Rakitic arrowed home a glorious top-corner consolation for a physically undercooked Barcelona, but Chelsea were not to be denied their second win of pre-season.
However, Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Arthur all missed the game after being given an extended break following their exertions at the Copa America.
Chelsea was without midfielder N’Golo Kante, who has travelled back to London to undergo further treatment following the recurrence of a knee problem.
Up Chelsea
When season starts fully, they would start messing up. You think beating Barcelona in preseason game makes you big
nice one
Chelsea all the way
Up chelsea
Njepu Chinenye
Chelsea for life…. Up blues
Up chelsea
What are they feeling like
Up blue… Chelsea for life
The is just preseason oo…chelsea should not get happy yet
I hope Chelsea does well in the EPL this season. Though I tip Manchester United to be the suprise team of the season!! For barca, i hope they are relegated!!!
congratulations on Chelsea’s victory.
Chelsea for life
Biko me no dey wish una congrat on anything