Barcelona vs. Pumas live score, updates, highlights from Joan Gamper Trophy match

by 24USATVAug. 7, 2022, 7 p.m. 37
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After a summer tour around the globe, Barcelona return home for their final preseason test of 2022 as the Catalan giants gear up for the coming La Liga campaign.

The Blaugrana take on Mexican side Pumas UNAM at Camp Nou on Sunday in the annual Joan Gamper Trophy, with the Liga MX squad making the overseas trip to face one of the world's most famous clubs.

It will be a final peek at how Xavi believes his best starting lineup is constructed, the coach afforded a wealth of incredible attacking talent thanks to a prolific offseason for Barcelona. New signings Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Franck Kessie have all made a positive impact in the attacking third.

Additionally, new defensive signing Jules Kounde adds yet another top player to the bulging Barcelona back line. However, questions remain over the club's financial situation: they are unable to register all their new players for La Liga duty as it stands.

The Sporting News will be following the match live and providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.

It was total and complete domination from Barcelona in the first half, dominating possession and carving the Pumas defense to shreds. Pedri found the back of the net twice, both created by Robert Lewandowski who was brilliant through the entire half.

Even when Barcelona took their foot off the gas and sat back, Pumas had to fight hard just to string a few passes together. The Mexican side forced ter Stegen into just one save, with little else to do the entire 45 minutes.

40th min: Barcelona have backed off a bit and the two teams have traded fruitless possession in midfield over the past 10 minutes. Pumas are unable to even string together passes against a passive Barcelona.

31st min: Chance, Pumas! It's the first action for Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen who saves down low to his left on a shot from Juan Dinenno that was seeking the inside of the post.

29th min: Dani Alves is doing his best to get Pumas out of danger, as he uses some beautiful skill to get around two Barcelona attackers in his own penalty area, but seconds after he finds a teammate it's given away. The Mexican side is just being overwhelmed by a Barcelona team that's gearing up for a strong start to the Spanish top flight season, and could challenge the best in the Champions League.

24th min: Chance, Barcelona! Every Barcelona attack seems to produce a great opportunity on goal, and this time only fate keeps the ball from finding the back of the net. First, Lewandowski produces a great looping feed to Raphinha on the left edge of the six-yard box, but his tight-angle shot cracks the woodwork.

On the follow-up, Dembele finds Lewandowski on the doorstep but this time it pings the right post and rebounds right into the breadbasket of the Pumas goalkeeper. How that stayed out, we'll never know.

21st min: Gavi earns the game's first yellow card on what appeared to be a clean tackle, as the Barcelona midfielder went to ground but got there first and clipped the ball. It's an odd call, potentially encouraged by Gustavo de Prete who went rolling into oblivion holding his face and thigh.

19th min: GOAL, BARCELONA! Lewandowski and Pedri link up again, and it's an absolutely tasty one that sees the former deliver a gorgeous back-heel flick to the latter who's all by himself. Again, the Pumas defense is nowhere to be found, and the La Liga giants glide right through the back line with ease.

15th min: Already 3-0 down, Pumas have finally grown into the match, starting to possess the ball. The match is gone by now, but they will look to win segments of the game moving forward, with the final score quite irrelevent.

10 min: GOAL, BARCELONA! What a nightmare start for the Mexican club, it's a total demolition. This time it's Ousmane Dembele who rips it past Gonzalez inside the near post. The Pumas defense is all over the place, and nobody was there to mark the Frenchman.

5th min: GOAL, BARCELONA! What a start for Barcelona! Lewandowski goes from scorer to provider as he feeds a little flick through to a streaking Pedri in on goal. The young midfielder also gets around the goalkeeper and pokes into the empty net.

4th min: GOAL, BARCELONA! It's a fast start for the hosts as Robert Lewandowski gets Barcelona on the board first with a spectacular opener. Down the left edge of the six-yard box, the Polish international rounds the goalkeeper to nearly the end line where he flicks a finish into the side netting from an incredibly tight angle.

3rd min: Barcelona already on the front foot as Ousmane Dembele sends in a pinpoint cross from deep down the right flank, but Pumas goalkeeper Julio Gonzalez comes flying in to punch it away before it can reach Lewandowski, and the Mexican side clears. It figures to be a busy day for the Pumas shot-stopper between the sticks.

1st min: Kickoff is a few minutes late, but the match is under way from the Camp Nou in Barcelona!

15 mins to kick: New Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski got a big hand from the home supporters when announced as a starter at the Camp Nou for the first time.

35 mins to kick: Former Barcelona star Dani Alves starts for Pumas UNAM, making an emotional return to the Camp Nou. He was surely critical in seeing the Liga MX side selected to play in this rescheduled match.

55 mins to kick: The Barcelona lineup is in. Robert Lewandowski starts for Barcelona up front, supported by Ousmane Dembele and Raphinha on the wings. Sergi Roberto, a natural midfielder, starts at right-back over American full-back Sergino Dest.

65 mins to kick: In the increasingly commercialized business of top-flight football, the Camp Nou this year will be known as the "Spotify Camp Nou" for sponsorship purposes, so don't flinch when you see the awkward new name. The club's social media channels are already making sure to include the new moniker on everything.

72 mins to kick: The Joan Gamper Trophy is a pre-season event hosted by Barcelona since 1966, named after a famous founding member and former player at the club.

Pumas are only in the 2022 edition of the Joan Gamper Trophy (pictured above, held by Sergio Busquets) after the withdrawal of AS Roma in mid-June, who stated they needed to "adjust the schedule for summer-friendly matches" to play games "near to home with less travel necessary." It was thought that Barcelona may sue Roma for the withdrawal, but nothing on that front has materialized since.

105 mins to kick: Pumas fans, whether from local or abroad, are on site and marching to the Camp Nou! What a moment for both the club and its supporters to be playing at one of Europe's most famous arenas.

120 mins to kick: The storyline ahead of the Barcelona season is the club's inability to register players. There is just a week left to go before their campaign begins, and the club's wage bill is unsustainable as-is, La Liga has determined.

Multiple reports, including ESPN, claim that the club currently cannot register all five summer signings of Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, Andreas Christensen, Jules Kunde, and Franck Kessie for league play this season. The club has already triggered multiple financial loopholes attempting to free up money to sign the players, but more work is still to be done.

Today's match will be about the performances on the field, but there is much work to be done off it if Barcelona are to take full advantage of their summer overhaul. The squad is bursting at the seams, and there could be a host of sales to come as the club looks to free up wages and secure incoming transfer fees.

With the La Liga season set to begin in one week's time, Barcelona will look to build chemistry among players in the expected starting lineup. Xavi will get headaches trying to fit his best attacking talent into the lineup on a weekly basis, with so many world-class attacking players at his disposal.

Talisman Robert Lewandowski was a lock to start up front long-term, and his supporting cast isOusmane Dembele and Raphinha. That leaves Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Ansu Fati, and Memphis Depay are on the bench, while Ferran Torres is behind the others, working his way back from an offseason injury.

In defense, Gerard Pique has been a key leader at the back when healthy, but is rested in this match before the season begins. Instead, it's Ronald Araujo and Eric Garcia partnered together and natural midfielder Sergi Roberto moves to right-back over Sergino Dest. Andreas Christensen, Pique, and new arrival Jules Kounde are all on the bench. New midfield man Franck Kessie also gets a rest from the start in today's friendly after a solid preseason performance, likely to make an appearance in the second half.

The lineup headliner for Mexican side Pumas UNAM is former Barcelona player Dani Alves who surely factored into the selection of his new club to play in this match.

Pumas are in the midst of a strange Apertura season with five draws through the first six matches. Head coach Andres Lillini can't seem to get star striker Juan Dinenno going after his successful finish to last season, with the Argentine stuck on just a single goal.

Lillini goes with Adrian Aldrete at left-back over fellow former Mexican internationals Efrain Velarde and recent starter Jero Rodriguez. California-born Jorge Ruvalcaba could see a run-out on the wing at some point. The 21-year-old is a Mexican youth international and played college ball at Cal State San Bernardino less than two years ago.

Sunday's friendly match between Barcelona and UNAM Pumas from the Camp Nou will be broadcast by Univision and TUDN in the United States. Both channels are among the soccer-friendly channels available to be streamed on fuboTV.

In most other territories, a subscription to BarcaTV+ is required to watch the game. BarcaTV+ is the premium streaming service exclusive to FC Barcelona.

MORE: How can Barcelona buy players when so deeply in debt? Financial situation explained

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