Making the trip out to Japan for a summer friendly on Tuesday morning, Barcelona picked up a 2-0 victory against Japanese giants Kobe at the New National Stadium.

Travelling out to Japan with a full-strength squad, Xavi’s side breezed their way to a routine win on foreign soil as Franck Kessie and Eric Garcia bagged a quickfire first-half brace, the Spanish champions also handed a number of their academy products a deserved opportunity.

Reunited with former club legend Andres Iniesta in what is one of the 39-year-old’s final appearances for Kobe, there was certainly a real party atmosphere in Tokyo.

Although Takayuki Yoshida’s side might have failed to spring a real upset in midweek, the Cows would have been excited to test themselves against a Barca squad that ended their three-year trough drought last month.

On a morning when Barcelona claimed a routine summer boost, we have taken a look at the main talking points from Tuesday’s friendly showdown in Japan.

Barca head into the summer with a boost on foreign soil

Making real La Liga history this season as they got their hands on a first domestic crown since 2019, Xavi’s side had certainly gained plenty of plaudits from across Spain’s elite.

However, last seen over the weekend when signing off the 2022/23 campaign with a 2-1 loss away at Celta Vigo, Barca did fail to find much stability over the final few weeks.

Losing three of their last four La Liga appearances, Xavi’s side travelled out to Japan simply looking to claim a welcomed end-of-season boost on foreign soil.

More than deserving of their 2-0 victory on Tuesday morning, fans around Catalonia would have also been glad to see a host of their youth team stars get an opportunity to shine.

Arriving at the New National Stadium with a full-strength squad that included the likes of Frankie de Jong, Marcus Alonso, Ousmane Dembele and Andreas Christensen, Barca will certainly look back on their trip to Japan as a positive.

Now handed a well-earned break before they get their pre-season tour of the United States underway next month, Xavi’s squad will already be putting plans together for how they will defend their domestic crown next season.

Iniesta’s Japanese adventure is drawing to a close

Although Barcelona might have arrived at the New Nacional Stadium with a superstar squad, it was Xavi’s former midfield partner who was always going to steal most of the headlines here.

With it officially announced on May 25th that Iniesta would be leaving Kobe after a five-year stint in Japan, the World Cup winner has made it clear that his decision is simply based on a lack of playing time.

The former Barcelona captain, who won four Champions League titles and nine La Liga crowns during his historic time in Catalonia, has made just three J1 League appearances so far this season and had previously not featured in any of Kobe’s last four competitive showdowns.

Repeatedly stating that he is still not ready to hang up his boots and believing there is one final adventure on the cards, it has been heavily suggested that the 39-year-old has received offers from the likes of the MLS, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Handed a rare start on Tuesday morning and given a standing ovation when replaced on the 80th-minute mark, Iniesta brushed back tears and was met by an emotional outpour after the final whistle.

A final appearance for some of Barca’s first-team superstars

While there might be growing speculation that Barca are planning for what would be an emotional Lionel Messi return this summer, it is no secret that the Nou Camp hierarchy are desperate to move on some of their first-team stars ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Dealing with a string of public financial issues over recent times and still trying to juggle all of those behind the scene struggles, Xavi’s side have their attention focused on slashing their bumper wage bill.

Although it might have been suggested over the past few days that attacking talisman Robert Lewandowski could be the latest European icon tempted by a move to Saudi Arabia, it appears that the former Bayer Munich record-breaking will be staying put in Catalonia.

However, while Kessie might have opened the scoring here after just 16 minutes, there has been plenty of reports that the Ivory Coast international is already keen on securing a move back to Serie A this summer.

Likewise, with it suggested that Barcelona will not stand in the way of the 26-year-old making an Italian return, it also appears that Tuesday’s friendly battle in Japan might have been Ansu Fati’s final appearance for the Spanish giants.

Although Barca’s homegrown superstar might have made just his second start since back on April 10th here, Fati has been dealing with a host of injury issues over the past two years and Xavi’s side have made it clear that their Spanish starlet is free to leave Catalonia this summer.

Match Report

Kobe: Maekawa, Takahashi, Ozaki, Osaki, Hatsuse, Saito, Samper, Sasaki, Iniesta, Yuruki, Correa

Subs: Hidaka, Ide, Kawasaki, Mugosa, Muto, Nakasaka, Ogihara, Osako, Oatric, Phelipe, Terasaka, Thuler

Barcelona: Pena, Araujo, de Jong, Garcia, Alonso, Prim, Torre, Kessie, Rodriguez, Lewandowski, Fati

Subs: Fort, Gavi, Guiu, Hernandez, Kounde, Raphinha, Tenas, Torres

Goals: Kessie (16’), Garcia (19’)

Yellow Cards: N/A

Red Cards: N/A

Referee: Jumpel Lida