Rashford, Bardghji shine as Barcelona defeat Vissel Kobe 3-1 in Japan pre-season clash

Spanish giants Barcelona kicked off their pre-season in style with a 3-1 win over Japanese side Vissel Kobe at the Noevir Stadium in Kobe on Sunday, marking the debut of two new signings — Marcus Rashford and teenage sensation Roony Bardghji.

The friendly match, played before a packed crowd in Japan, brought back memories of Barcelona legend Andrés Iniesta, who previously lined up for Vissel Kobe.

Barcelona took the lead in the 33rd minute through centre-back Eric Garcia, who pounced on a loose ball inside the box to put the Catalan side ahead. However, the hosts responded swiftly, with Taisei Miyashiro curling in a fine equaliser before the break to keep the contest finely balanced.

Hansi Flick’s side returned strongly in the second half, introducing fresh legs in the form of Rashford and Bardghji, both of whom impressed in their first outings for the club.

The 19-year-old Bardghji, signed from FC Copenhagen, made an instant impact by finding the net with a calm finish, before fellow youngster Pedro Fernandez added a third to seal the win.

Joan Garcia started in goal for Barcelona, marking his first senior start for the club. Rashford, who completed a summer move from Manchester United, showed flashes of his attacking threat and looked lively after coming on at halftime.

With the new La Liga season looming, Barcelona appear to be sharpening their edge early, with the team’s attacking depth — including Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Lewandowski, and now Rashford — already turning heads.

Vissel Kobe, who are in the middle of their domestic campaign, delivered a commendable performance and kept pace with Barcelona for much of the game. Their sharpness and composure were evident, but Barcelona’s overall quality proved decisive in the closing stages.

This result marks a positive start to pre-season for Flick’s side, who are eyeing both domestic glory and a stronger push in Europe next term. With exciting talents like Bardghji and a rejuvenated Rashford added to their ranks, Barcelona’s 2025/26 campaign already promises fireworks.