Football: Barcelona down Kobe 3-1 as Laporta explains friendly U-turn
The match at Kobe's Noevir Stadium was in danger of cancellation after Barcelona announced "serious contractual breaches on behalf of the promoter" on Wednesday, but the decision was made on Friday to play the match as scheduled.
Kobe president Hiroshi Mikitani, who also heads Barcelona's former shirt sponsor and e-commerce giant Rakuten Group Inc., later explained that the issue surrounding unpaid money has been resolved.
"Our relationship and connection with Barcelona fans in Japan is important, and a big reason why we eventually decided to come," Barcelona president Joan Laporta told Kyodo News before the match.
"It's an honor (former Barcelona players) David Villa and Andres Iniesta have played for Kobe, a club with history, and it's fascinating to play in Japan. Their progress is clear from their achievements at the World Cup...I really like watching Barcelona youth product (Takefusa) Kubo play as I can feel the 'Barca-ism.'"
Rafinha's header off a Lamine Yamal cross was denied by Kobe keeper Daiya Maekawa and the Brazilian winger sent a 25-meter drive inches wide before Eric Garcia's deflected effort from close range off a corner gave Barcelona the lead in the 33rd minute.
Daiju Sasaki and Taisei Miyashiro had close-range efforts denied for Kobe but the pair combined to draw level in the 43rd minute. Sasaki robbed the ball off Pau Cubarsi in the opposing half and while his shot was saved by keeper Joan Garcia, Rikuto Hirose set up Miyashiro to bury home on the turn.
Both sides made wholesale changes at the break and while chances were not taken by Dani Olmo and Marcus Rashford, Roony Bardghji curled low into the left far corner after Robert Lewandowski teed him up in the 77th minute for Barcelona.
Pedri Fernandez completed the scoring by rushing home a loose ball in the 87th minute as Barcelona made it three straight wins against Kobe following their 2-0 wins in 2019 and 2023.
"Each player's technique level was extremely high, and I felt this was the level I have to be competing in every day," Miyashiro said. "Pedri and Gavi in the first half especially were taking up positions extremely hard to pick up."
The match was the last club international friendly involving a Spanish side this summer in Japan after Real Sociedad, home to Kubo, lost 1-0 to J2 V-Varen Nagasaki before they beat J1 Yokohama FC 2-1 earlier this week.
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Yomiuri Shimbun
13 hours ago
- Yomiuri Shimbun
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Wang Gang visited Pakistan in July to discuss how Islamabad had used Chinese equipment to put together the 'kill chain' for the Rafale, two PAF officials said. China did not respond when asked about that interaction. The Pakistani military said in a statement in July that Wang had expressed 'keen interest in learning from PAF's battle-proven experience in Multi Domain Operations.'
The Mainichi
a day ago
- The Mainichi
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Nikkei Asia
3 days ago
- Nikkei Asia
Liverpool's Endo prioritizes champions over game time ahead of World Cup
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