Five important lessons from Barcelona- leicester match

The Spanish champions defeated last season’s Premier League winners 4-2 at the Friends Arena in Stockholm and here, Goal takes a look at the mejor talking points from the ICC clash

It is difficult to draw conclusions from pre-season. Not all players are available, fitness levels are low, matches mean little and teams try out different things. However, Barcelona and Leicester will both learn lessons from Wednesday night’s International Champions Cup clash in Stockholm.

Barca raced into a 3-0 lead by half-time after a double from Munir El Haddadi and a Luis Suarez strike, but Leicester pulled two back trough summer signing Ahmed Musa before the Catalans wrapped up a 4-2 victory late on through Rafa Mujica.

It was an entertaining encounter full of attacking play and here, Goal looks at the major talking points from the six-goal game in Sweden…

MUNIR CAN BE BARCA’S FOURTH FORWARD

Barcelona have done most of their transfer business early this summer, yet their priority in the market was to sign a fourth forward as back-up for Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar. And such a player has still not arrived.

Nolito moved to Manchester City, Luciano Vietto chose Sevilla and Kevin Gameiro has joined Atletico Madrid, leaving Luis Enrique fustrated. But the solution may have been right under his nose all along.

Munir El Haddadi was extremely sharp alongside Messi and Suarez in this match, scoring the opening goal with a fine finish after an extraordinary pass from Messi and adding the third in an excellent move involving the Argentine and also Suarez.

On this form, the young Spanish striker looks like a decent option as back-up to the MSN, stepping up from last season when he was given few opportunities by his coach. 

MESSI HAS LOST NONE OF HIS JOY AFTER ARGENTINA DISAPPOINTMENT
In his first press conference in pre-season, Barca boss Luis Enrique was asked if he was worried about whether Lionel Messi would be affected by his disappointment at the Copa America Centenario with Argentina – and his subsequent international requirement.

The Asturian replied that Messi was fine, looking forward to being back on the pitch with his club and doing what he does best – playing football.

The 29-year-old captained the team on Wednesday and was all smiles before kick-off. And after setting up an early chance, his wonderful pass for Munir broke the deadlock.

The Argentine assisted again for Suarez and then began the move which led to the third goal with some fine play in a deep role. Clearly, he has lost none of his joy for the game – and that’s great news for Barca.

MARLON SANTOS CAN BE USEFUL AS A BACK-UP DEFENDERMarlon Santos arrived amid little fuss from Fluminense earlier in the summer on a year-long loan to strengthen the defence with Barca B.

However, with so many players still on holiday after Euro 2016 the 20-year-old Brazilian was given a chance against Celtic and impressed in Barca’s first International Champions Cup match, which ended in a 3-1 wi.

Marlon was given another opportunity in this one and looked assured on the ball and solid at the back as Barca went in 3-0 up against Leicester at the break.

The Brazilian went off at the interval and Leicester hit back immediately in the second half through Ahmed Musa, who went on to score a second as Luis Enrique’s side continued to look shaky without the Brazilian, who could provide useful back-up in central defence for the senior side next season (behind Gerard Pique, Javier Mascherano and summer signing Samuel Umtiti), while his form could even persuade the Catalans to sell Thomas Vermaelen later in the window.

ICC A GREAT EUROPEAN EDUCATION FOR LEICESTER AHEAD OF CHAMPIONS LEAGUELeicester must have feared the worst at half-time. Having lost 4-0 to Paris Saint-Germain in their previous International Champions Cup clash, the Foxes found themselves three down to Barca and it looked like they would be on the end of another hiding against a rampant rival.

But Ahmed Musa struck twice and the Premier League champions pushed Barca back for much of the second half, threatening to draw level before Rafa Mujica ended their hopes with a late goal for the Blaugrana.

How they reacted is a credit to coach Claudio Ranieri and his hardworking side, who will look to compete again at the top of the Premier League and also in the Champions League for the first time in their history in the coming campaign.

This tournament will help. Playing PSG and Barcelona will give Leicester an idea of the type of teams they will be playing in Europe’s premier club competition and the Foxes’ second-half performance proved that the ICC will serve as valuable education for Ranieri’s side as they look to step up to another level in 2016-17.

AHMED MUSA’S PACE WILL CAUSE PROBLEMS TO ANY TEAMOne of the plus points for Leicester was the performance of summer signing Ahmed Musa. The Nigeria striker signed from CSKA Moscow for a club record £16.6 million earlier this summer and had an instant impact as he came off the bench at half-time and raced away to score a stunning solo effort with Jeremy Mathieu and Sergi Roberto left in his wake after 47 minutes.

Musa then added another with a venomous strike after 64 minutes and his pace caused Barca problems thorughout.

“In Musa and Vardy, @LCFC might just have the quickest pair of strikers in the history of football,” Gary Lineker wrote on Twitter.

No team enjoys playing against pace and for Leicester’s counter-attacking style, the Nigerian looks like he will be a real weapon. On this form he can cause havoc against defences at home and abroad in 2016-17.