Latest news with #AndresIniesta
The Mainichi
12 hours ago
- Sport
- The Mainichi
Football: Andres Iniesta to miss Legends Match in Kobe
OSAKA (Kyodo) -- Vissel Kobe said Tuesday former Spain star midfielder Andres Iniesta will miss this weekend's charity match in Kobe, western Japan, for family reasons. Iniesta spent five years with the J-League club through the summer of 2023. The Legends Match commemorating the 30th anniversary of Vissel's founding is scheduled for Saturday at Noevir Stadium Kobe.
Forbes
3 days ago
- Sport
- Forbes
Two New FC Barcelona Stars Score On Debut Versus Vissel Kobe
Two new FC Barcelona first team stars scored on their debuts as the Catalans beat Vissel Kobe 3-1 in ... More a preseason friendly match on Sunday. Two new FC Barcelona first team stars scored on their debuts as the Catalans beat Vissel Kobe 3-1 in a preseason friendly match on Sunday. There were doubts that Hansi Flick's men would even take the plane to the Far East after a promoter dispute came to the forefront ahead of the weekend. On Friday, however, Barca did indeed head to Asia where it is scheduled to play three friendlies in total. The first of those fixtures is against Blaugrana legend Andres Iniesta's first team after leaving Barca in 2016, Vissel Kobe, and his fellow former La Masia pupil opened the scoring on 33 minutes amid Japanese fans getting the chance to see Lamine Yamal with the number 10 on his back. After a slip up at the back by Cubarsi, though, the hosts equalized past the only debutant in new goalkeeper Joan Garcia ahead of half time. During the interval, Flick changed all 11 players which also meant that the likes of Marcus Rashford, Roony Bardghji and Dro Fernandez got their maiden minutes in the first team. While Rashford came close and his shot saved, though, both Bardghji and Fernandez enjoyed dream debuts by getting on the scoresheet in the 77th and 88th minutes respectively to seal a 3-1 win. While Bardghji cooly terminated a move involving Robert Lewandowski, Fernandez had to concentrate his best to volley a shot into the far bottom corner after a poor clearance and caused SPORT to say that a 'star is born'. Unfortunately for them, two other Fernandez boys in Guillermo and Toni couldn't off the bench, but they are sure to feature at some other point of the tour. While Wojciech Szczesny replaced Joan Garcia, Diego Kochen wasn't introduced at any part of the proceedings as the third shotstopper in the squad. As we know, Marc-Andre ter Stegen isn't part of the team in Asia after once again falling to a back injury which will require surgery. FC Barcelona will now head to Korea After wrapping up its commitments in Japan, FC Barcelona will now head to South Korea. It will have a few days rest ahead of taking on FC Seoul on July 31 at 13.00 PM, and then meeting Daegu FC on August 4.
Malay Mail
4 days ago
- Sport
- Malay Mail
Barcelona's Japan friendly back on after dispute over ‘serious contractual breaches'
TOKYO, July 26 — Barcelona will play a pre-season friendly in Japan tomorrow as scheduled, J-League side Vissel Kobe said, despite the Spanish club initially cancelling the match, citing unspecified 'serious contractual breaches'. The announcement comes after Barcelona said this week it had to 'suspend its participation in the game' in Japan 'due to serious contractual breaches on behalf of the promoter'. The Spanish giants were scheduled to play Vissel Kobe tomorrow before travelling to South Korea to face FC Seoul on July 31 and Daegu FC on August 4. The Japanese team said in a statement yesterday that 'following careful discussions with the relevant parties, the match scheduled for Sunday... will be held as planned.' Vissel Kobe, for whom Barcelona and Spain great Andres Iniesta played at the end of his career, said there were 'contractual issues' and they had been working with their owner 'to coordinate with the relevant parties, including Barcelona, in order to realise the match.' Barcelona shared a video of the team stepping out of a plane today on X, with the caption 'Konnichiwa, Japan!' 'We are really excited to be in Japan,' they said in another post. — AFP
The Sun
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Barcelona cancels Japan pre-season match
BARCELONA cancelled their pre-season friendly against Japanese side Vissel Kobe on Wednesday, citing 'serious contractual breaches' by the tour promoter and suggested they may have to scrap upcoming fixtures in South Korea. The Catalan giants were set to play their first game in Kobe against the J-League team retired former Barca star Andres Iniesta also played for on Sunday. 'Barcelona announces that it has been obliged to suspend its participation in the game scheduled for next Sunday in Japan due to serious contractual breaches on behalf of the promotor,' said Barca in a statement. 'Nevertheless, the club will consider readjusting the leg of the summer tour in South Korea, where two games are scheduled against FC Seoul (July 31) and Daegu FC (August 4), if certain conditions are met by the promoter. 'If these conditions are met, then the club will travel to South Korea in the coming days. Barcelona regrets this incident and the impact it will have on the many, many Barca fans in Japan.' The club had planned to face Italian side Como at their revamped Camp Nou stadium on August 10 for its reopening but after failing to obtain the adequate permits were forced to move the game to the Johan Cruyff stadium by their training ground. - AFP
Malay Mail
6 days ago
- Sport
- Malay Mail
Barcelona's Asian tour on ropes after Japan game cancelled
BARCELONA, July 24 — Barcelona have cancelled their Asian tour pre-season friendly against Japan's Vissel Kobe, citing unspecified 'serious contractual breaches', warning matches in South Korea could also be scrapped. The Spanish giants were due to play J-League side Vissel Kobe on Sunday before traveling to South Korea to face FC Seoul on July 31 and Daegu FC on August 4. 'Barcelona announces that it has been obliged to suspend its participation in the game scheduled for next Sunday in Japan due to serious contractual breaches on behalf of the promoter,' said a Barcelona statement late Wednesday. 'Barcelona regrets this incident and the impact it will have on the many, many Barca fans in Japan.' Vissel Kobe, for whom Barcelona and Spain great Andres Iniesta played at the end of his career, said in a statement Thursday that they were 'currently investigating the situation'. 'We sincerely apologise for any concern this may cause to the many fans and stakeholders who were looking forward to this match,' Kobe added. The tour promoters, Seoul-based company D-Drive, said that they were confident the matches in South Korea would be unaffected. 'All scheduled activities in South Korea will take place as planned, without any disruptions,' said a D-Drive statement, which blamed organisers in Japan for the Kobe cancellation. 'This is an issue that stems solely from the Japanese side and has no connection whatsoever with the Korea tour.' — AFP
