Barcelona Cruise Past Como as Ter Stegen Reconciles with Club
On Sunday, Barcelona wrapped up their pre-season in style by beating Como 5–0 with a commanding display at the Joan Gamper Trophy. More importantly, the match saw goalkeeper Marc-André Ter Stegen, who had recently been at odds with the club over his injury management, make a strong gesture of reconciliation by delivering the traditional captain’s speech before kick-off.
Match Highlights
Goals came from Raphinha (in the first half), while both Fermín López and Lamine Yamal netted doubles to dominate the scoreline.
Marcus Rashford, still adjusting after his loan move from Manchester United two weeks prior, came off the bench. He delivered a teasing cross for Raphinha but also missed an opportunity with a tap-in at the other end.
Venue & Build-up
The clash was held at the compact Johan Cruyff Stadium, Barcelona’s temporary venue while the Camp Nou undergoes renovations. Under manager Hansi Flick, the team looked well-oiled and ready to defend their La Liga title, which begins away to Mallorca this Saturday.
Ter Stegen’s Return to Leadership
Just two days after his captaincy was restored following a dispute with the club, Ter Stegen addressed the fans with warmth and determination:
“I think it was important to resolve the issue between the club and me, and now it’s time to look forward. We’re going to fight again for all the trophies, and we hope, with your help, we can win as many titles as possible.”