Robert Lewandowski netted his maiden goal for Barcelona, and Pedri scored twice in a 6-0 win over Pumas UNAM in the Joan Gamper Trophy at Camp Nou on August 7.
The Pole scored inside the first two minutes, and a Pedri brace and an Ousmane Dembele goal extended Barcelona’s lead to four goals by the 20th minute.
In the second half, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Frenkie de Jong completed the scoring as Xavi Hernandez’s side completed an unbeaten preseason with their fourth win in six matches.
Barcelona’s LaLiga season begins on August 13 at home against Rayo Vallecano. Despite a trophyless season last season, there is renewed excitement at Barcelona following a summer of spending that included the arrivals of Lewandowski, Raphinha, Jules Kounde, Franck Kessie, and Andreas Christensen.
Before the game, they were all introduced to a crowd of over 80,000 people, with Lewandowski eliciting the loudest applause from fans following his 45 million euros transfer from Bayern Munich.
The striker had not scored in three friendlies for his new club, but he scored in less than two minutes against Pumas, rounding goalkeeper Julio Jose Gonzalez and finishing from a tight angle after a fine pass from Pedri.
The first half’s highlight was the blossoming relationship between Pedri and Lewandowski. Soon after, Lewandowski returned the favour, sending Pedri through for his second goal in the 20th minute with a brilliant flick.
Dembele scored his fifth preseason goal after good work from Raphinha, a 55 million signing from Leeds United, in the middle of Pedri’s two goals. Raphinha and Lewandowski then hit the crossbar within a minute of each other, but Pumas held on until halftime without conceding a fifth goal.
Dani Alves’ return to Camp Nou was not what he had hoped for. The Brazilian switched from Barcelona to Pumas in the summer and was given a commemorative shirt by his former club before the game, but he was a passenger once the game began, just like his new teammates.
Barca made seven substitutions at halftime, and two of them combined in the 49th minute to make it five. Lewandowski provided the assist for Kessie, who found Aubameyang at the far post to complete the scoring.
Aubameyang then hit the crossbar and had another chance deflected over before de Jong scored late on. The Netherlands midfielder, who has been linked with a move away from Barcelona this summer, won the ball high up the pitch before slotting home to cap an impressive 45-minute performance.
Pumas almost scored late on, but Jeronimo Rodriguez was denied by a stunning save from substitute goalkeeper Inaki Pena.
