Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal opened their pre-season accounts in front of watching K-pop superstars Itzy on their trip to FC Seoul on Thursday – but the Spain sensation then coughed up possession to allow their hosts to hit back.
Making his first start of Barca’s Asia tour, iconic striker Lewandowski pounced from close range in the eighth minute after Dani Olmo surged from the halfway line to tee up Yamal inside the box for a shot that hit a post.
Six minutes later, Yamal doubled the reigning Spanish champions’ advantage with a low shot from outside the box on the right that beat goalkeeper Kang Hyeonmu at his near post.
Just when Barca looked in cruise control, Yamal dawdled on the ball near his own box on Barca’s right, allowing Kim Jin-Su to pinch possession and cross for Cho Young-Wook to fire in a 26th-minute reply.
Seoul looked to have completed a first-half comeback through Yazan Al Arab’s clinical finish from new signing Anderson Oliveira’s defence-splitting pass, only for Yamal to collect Olmo’s pass inside the box on the right, cut inside to throw Kim Jin-Su off balance and take another composed touch to create space and find the far corner of the net.
The camera panned to Itzy after Lewandowski slotted in, with Barcelona inviting the band to introduce themselves in the stands before kick-off while announcing the five-piece as “surprise special guests”.
The five-time Asian Pop Music Awards winners shared the video on Instagram, where they have almost 20 million followers, along with the words ‘visca el Barca’, which translates as Catalan phrase ‘long live Barca’.
Itzy visited Spain for the first time last year, playing to thousands at Madrid’s Palacio Vistalegre arena.
Surprise guests alert 🚨
깜짝 방문한 게스트를 공개합니다!@SpotifyKR @ITZYofficial 👀 pic.twitter.com/qCqHNH89ZV— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 31, 2025
Barcelona lineup vs FC Seoul
Lewandowski had started on the bench for the 3-1 win at Japanese side Vissel Kobe on Sunday but was part of a starting side featuring Yamal this time around.
The 36-year-old Poland talisman and 18-year-old Yamal, who retained his place, are among the players locals would have been most looking forward to seeing.
“He’s an exceptional talent,” Flick said of Yamal after the team arrived in South Korea. “He is unbelievable and can decide matches.
“Of course he will play. We all want to give our best and play to our highest level here in South Korea, in Seoul.”
Ronald Araujo started at the back as captain, while Dani Olmo, Frenkie de Jong and Jules Kounde – who says he is close to signing a contract extension until 2030 – also came in.
Goalkeeper Joan Garcia started again and forward Marcus Rashford could come off the bench, as he did against Kobe following his loan move from Manchester United.
Marc ter Stegen has had more surgery on lower back problems and Marc Bernal is awaiting the all-clear in the midfielder’s recovery from a long-term knee injury.
Barcelona starting XI: Joan Garcia; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Balde; Pedri, De Jong, Olmo, Lamine Yamal, Lewandowski, Raphinha.
Barcelona substitutes: Pena, Szczesny, Kochen, Inigo Martinez, Gavi, Ferran, Rashford, Christensen, Fermon, Casado, Bardghji, Eric Garcia, Jofre, Dro, Fernandez, Guille Fernandez, Fort, Gerard Martin
Is Barcelona v FC Seoul on TV? Live stream, TV channel
Kick-off was at 12:00 BST / 07:00 ET / 04:00 PT on Thursday. Barcelona’s two remaining game of their Asian tour are free to air on their YouTube channel.
What kit are Barcelona wearing? Kobe Bryant link explained
Barcelona are debuting their 2025/26 away kit, which is an official collaboration with late basketball icon Kobe Bryant’s brand.
The NBA superstar coined the term ‘Mamba Mentality’ to describe his personal philosophy, which he detailed in his autobiography of the same name.
Five years after the Los Angeles Lakers great’s death, the kit marks the first time a football club has teamed up with the brand.
Bryant’s three-pointed Mamba emblem takes the place of the standard Nike swoosh and the jersey features a pale gold base accented with purple in homage to the colours worn by the Lakers shooting guard.
A subtle snakeskin jacquard pattern runs throughout the fabric, giving the kit a protective, armour-like effect.
Even the badge details have been given a distinctive treatment. Both the Barca crest and the Mamba symbol are applied using a textured silicone with the same snakeskin finish.
Black shorts and socks bearing the Mamba logo complete the kit.
Barcelona v Seoul stats
- Barcelona have gone seven pre-season away friendlies unbeaten away from their home city over 90 minutes, since a 5-3 defeat to Arsenal in Inglewood on July 26, 2023.
- Their last away defeat in Spain was on November 10 (1-0 at Real Sociedad), although they have lost their last two on the road in the Champions League, 4-3 at Inter Milan in the semi-finals on May 6 and 3-1 at Borussia Dortmund on April 15.
- Including friendlies, six of Barca’s last seven games away from Barcelona have featured more than two goals, and they have scored in the second half in each of the last six such games.
- Rashford could become the first male English player to start a Barcelona game since Gary Lineker against Real Zaragoza on June 20, 1987.
- Forty-three years after their formation, Seoul’s win over Daejeon Hana made them the third Korean club to win 500 games in the top division, following Ulsan (who now have 554 wins ) and Pohang (540).
- Five of Seoul’s last seven games in all competitions contained fewer than three goals, although two contained five each.
- Seoul have scored the third-fewest goals (27) in the K League 1 and conceded the second-fewest (23), with only leaders Jeonbuk bettering their defensive record.
- Lingard has three goals and two assists in his last five starts in all competitions.
Barcelona pre season fixtures 2025/26
July 31: Seoul (A), 12:00 / 07:00 ET / 04:00 PT
August 4: Daegu (A), 12:00 BST / 07:00 ET / 04:00 PT
August 10: Como (Estadi Johan Cruyff), 20:00 BST / 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT
When does Barcelona’s 2025/26 LaLiga season start?
Barca start their season at Mallorca, who finished 10th last season, on Saturday, August 16 at 16:30 BST.
They are expected to play at least their first three league games of the season away while work on their Camp Nou stadium is completed, meaning they will not play a home match until mid-September at the earliest.
The first instalment of El Classico in 2025/26 will be on Matchweek 10 in late October, when Barca travel to Real Madrid.
