Football
2018 Trofeo Joan Gamper
BAR 
3
FT
 CABJ
0
Sam Marsden 7y

Lionel Messi, Malcom score as Barcelona beat Boca Juniors in Joan Gamper trophy match

Barcelona eased to a 3-0 win over Boca Juniors in the annual Joan Gamper trophy match at Camp Nou on Wednesday, with goals from Malcom, Lionel Messi and Rafinha leading the way.

A crowd of over 70,000 saw a strong Barca side establish a two-goal lead by the break thanks to efforts from €41 million summer signing Malcom and newly-appointed club captain Messi.

Philippe Coutinho drew a fine stop from Esteban Andrada in the 17th minute but the Argentine goalkeeper was at fault moments later when he let Malcom's skidding drive slip under him.

Boca thought Samuel Umtiti had handled the ball in the area just after the half-hour mark but saw the video assistant referee reject their claim for a penalty.

Messi, cheered before the game by Barca and Boca fans, then doubled the La Liga champions' lead, chipping Andrada after the ball had ricocheted back to him off a defender.

The Argentine side came close to pulling a goal back almost immediately, but Sebastian Villa's shot hit the post and Nahitan Nandez's follow up was cleared off the line by Umtiti.

Barca coach Ernesto Valverde made eight changes at half-time, handing a Camp Nou debut to teenager Riqui Puig, whose smart turn allowed Malcom to go close again.

Rafinha, who's had a fine preseason, then added Barcelona's third, playing a neat one-two with Luis Suarez before lifting the ball over Andrada and volleying into an empty net.

After Sunday's Spanish Super Cup win over Sevilla, the real business for Ernesto Valverde's side now begins on Saturday, when they host Alaves in the first game of the new league season.

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