Barcelona‘s first game under new coach Tito Vilanova ended in a 2-1 friendly win away to German Bundesliga club Hamburg on Tuesday.
With a host of players missing, including those who helped Spain to glory at UEFA EURO 2012 and the injured Lionel Messi, Vilanova sent out a youthful-looking side in a match held to mark Hamburg’s 125th anniversary.
Dani Alves gave the Catalans an early lead and, while Tolgay Arslan hauled Hamburg level. Barcelona then scored what proved to be the winner shortly before half-time when 18-year-old prodigy Gerard Deulofeu knocked in a loose ball.
The Barcelona manager thought that the match was a good exercise, after the summer break, for the players to “remember the right ideas.” He added, “in general terms we played a good match, we controlled ball possession, and we played most of the game on the opponent’s side of the pitch. We also pressured them high up the pitch,” said Vilanova.
Barcelona’s next friendly comes away to Moroccan club Raja Casablanca in Tangier on Saturday.
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