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Lionel Messi leads FC Barcelona to victory in the first test match in preparation for the new season as captain after the Wechsel-Theater.
With a 3-1 victory over Gimnàstic Tarragona, Barça started the era on the right foot with new manager Ronald Koeman. The Dutchman had replaced Quique Setien, from whom the Catalans parted after a disastrous 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals. Although the season in Spain started this weekend with a goalless draw between SD Eibar and Celta de Vigo, FC Barcelona will only start the new season on September 27 with a home game against Villarreal.
Previously, Messi, who was originally willing to change, had yielded to the group of transfers with his club. The six-time world footballer had to give in to the will of his club and will now remain in Barcelona at least until the end of the season according to his contract.
Koeman puts the team to the test
When Koeman made his debut at the Catalan national holiday, Ousmane Dembélé, who played his first game since November 2019, got ahead of Barça after five minutes. Ten minutes later, Frenchman Antoine Griezmann with the new number 7 on his shirt extended the lead with a converted penalty.
Following the guest goal, Koeman brought in a completely different team in the second half, including Philippe Coutinho, who had returned from Bayern on loan. The decision came from an own goal by the visitors after a Nelson Semedo cross.
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