Source: Alamy Stock Photo

Barcelona Showcase Their Attacking Arsenal with Five-Goal Win Over Como

Barcelona cruised to a commanding 5-0 victory over Italian side Como on Sunday evening in the annual Joan Gamper Trophy, held by the Catalan club in honor of its founder.

Despite missing their Polish top scorer Robert Lewandowski, who suffered a muscle injury last week, Barcelona were ruthless, with Fermín López taking center stage by netting twice in the 21st and 35th minutes, before Brazilian winger Raphinha (38’) and young star Lamine Yamal (42’, 49’) added the other three goals.

The match was played at the Johan Cruyff Stadium within the club’s training complex, as Barcelona continue to await the long-delayed completion of renovation works at Camp Nou.

Before kick-off, German goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen delivered the traditional captain’s speech from the pitch, just days after his dispute with the club over the handling of his back injury became public. The club had initially stripped him of the captaincy, but the situation was resolved when he signed off on the medical report for the surgery he recently underwent, allowing the club to register new goalkeeper Juan García.

Two days after regaining the armband, ter Stegen said: “I think it was important to resolve the issue between me and the club, and now it’s time to look forward.”

Addressing the fans, he added: “We will fight again for all the titles, and with your support, we hope to win every possible trophy.”

Como, coached by former Barcelona midfield star Cesc Fàbregas, suffered a worrying defeat. The team had enjoyed an impressive Serie A campaign and strengthened their squad over the summer with experienced names, most notably Spain captain Álvaro Morata.

Laporta Praises His Captain

Barcelona president Joan Laporta expressed his delight with the festive atmosphere of the Joan Gamper Trophy, saying after the match: “It’s a special celebration that carries Johan Cruyff’s legacy and honours the club’s founder. Facing Como, led by Cesc Fàbregas, Sergi Roberto, and Álex Valle, was a special moment, and (coach) Hansi Flick continues to make us happy.”

Laporta praised ter Stegen, affirming: “Ter Stegen is our captain, and he gave a fantastic speech that inspired the fans. After 11 years at the club, he’s a great figure, and I’m happy to see him back as captain.”

Regarding the registration of goalkeeper Juan García, he explained: “We’re waiting for approval from La Liga’s medical committee to register him, and we hope that happens soon.”

On the other unregistered players, Laporta said: “We’re working to resolve the matter, and if we can’t get them registered before the Mallorca match on Sunday, we still have enough time.”

Speaking about defender Iñigo Martínez’s move to Saudi side Al-Nassr, Laporta commented: “We have five defenders, so one had to go. Iñigo made a family decision at 34 years old. He joined us for free, and we had already agreed to let him leave if such an opportunity arose.”

On the Ballon d’Or, Laporta expressed optimism: “We have four players nominated, and I hope one of them wins it. Lamine trains as hard as he plays, and Hristo Stoichkov’s endorsement of him makes me happy. We also have female players nominated, and even Flick is in contention.”

Laporta concluded by reaffirming the club’s commitment to returning to Camp Nou: “We are working seriously with the city council to complete the project, which benefits both the city and the country, and we expect to return soon as progress continues.”

La Liga kicks off next Friday, with Barcelona beginning their title defense by hosting Mallorca on the 16th.