Goals from Tammy Abraham and Ross Barkley have earned Chelsea a deserved 2-1 win over Barcelona in Tuesday's pre-season friendly in Saitama.
The Blues went in front thanks to a neatly-taken goal from Abraham, who rounded Marc Andre ter Stegen before converting into an empty net, while Barkley sent a 20-yard strike into the bottom corner during the closing stages.
Barcelona netted a consolation goal in the first-minute of added-on time as Ivan Rakitic fired a stunning shot into the top corner of Kepa Arrizabalaga's net.
Find out how all of the action unfolded in Japan courtesy of Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the pre-season friendly between Barcelona and Chelsea in Saitama. The Blues suffered defeat in their last outing to J-League champions Kawasaki Frontale, meaning that new boss Frank Lampard will be keen to see a positive result against the La Liga giants. As the teams make their way out in Japan, let's see who features in each starting lineup...
BARCELONA XI: Ter Stegen; Roberto, Pique, Umtiti, Alba; Oriol Busquets, Sergio Busquets, Puig; Collado, Griezmann, Dembele
CHELSEA XI: Arrizabalaga; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Luiz, Palmieri; Jorginho, Kovacic; Pedro, Mount, Pulisic; Abraham
After the drawn-out pre-match pleasantries, we are finally underway!
CHANCE! Barcelona win a corner within the first minute of the contest, and they should probably score from the resulting set piece. The ball was flicked on to Oriol Busquets at the back post, but the midfielder sent a free header off target from 10 yards.
SHOT! Chelsea hit back with an opportunity of their own. Kovacic's floated pass towards the back post finds Azpilicueta, but the full-back can only head harmlessly wide.
The Blues are having the better of this right now, although Barcelona don't seem in any rush to up the tempo during the early stages of this contest.
A quick free kick from Chelsea leads to Palmieri bombing down the left flank, and it takes an important intervention from Ter Stegen to prevent Abraham from converting from close range.
Chelsea get themselves back on the ball in their half of the pitch, although Barcelona now look like they want to press the Premier League side.
Abraham is under pressure to show that he can hold up the ball against high-quality opposition and it has been a mixed bag so far. The youngster just controlled the ball on his chest on the halfway line, before misplacing a five-yard pass.
Christensen and Griezmann get involved in a foot race down the left flank, and it is the Chelsea defender who comes out on top to see off the danger.
The game is competitive in the middle third of the pitch, but not a whole lot is happening at either end. Both teams will be happy with how things are going so far.
Jorginho and Griezmann have just gone into a 50-50 challenge - Jorginho more aggressively - and the Barcelona summer signing has come off worse. He is currently receiving treatment on his knee, which will naturally concern the Barca dugout.
Griezmann is back on his feet, which is a relief to everyone associated with Barcelona.
Griezmann goes further to ease any concerns by being heavily involved in a Barcelona move which ends with the Frenchman having a shot blocked inside the area.
CHANCE! Chelsea should be ahead. Pulisic gets a shot away from the edge of the area, forcing Ter Stegen to parry the ball into the path of Abraham who is waiting six yards out. However, the academy graduate blazed over the bar on the half-volley. He simply has to be scoring those kind of opportunities.
SHOT! There are signs that Chelsea are upping the tempo. Mount comes out on top in a challenge with Umtiti, leading to a chance to shoot on the edge of the area. However, the youngster fires a left-footed effort over the crossbar.
Barcelona have made several mistakes over the last few minutes. It is to be expected given that this is their first game of pre-season, while the conditions in Japan remain humid.
Chelsea are also going out of their way to press their opponents, aware that they may be starting to wilt. It's working, too, but we are still on level terms.
Better from Barcelona who manage to put Chelsea on the back foot, but the Blues were comfortable when dealing with the threat.
Luiz has started to showcase his range of passing as Chelsea take a more direct approach. Lampard won't mind that with the Englishman keen to see different aspects of his team's qualities.
GOAL! BARCELONA 0-1 CHELSEA (TAMMY ABRAHAM)
© Reuters
GOAL! Chelsea take the lead! Barcelona give the ball away in their defensive third, leading to the ball going into the path of Abraham. The youngster does brilliantly, taking a touch towards goal, another to his left to round Ter Stegen, before converting into an empty net.
Chelsea deserve that goal, and it could prove to be significant for Abraham. He has his flaws, but that is the kind of thing he can do, and what Chelsea were missing last season.
CHANCE! Another chance for Chelsea, this time for Pulisic. The USA international advances down the left and into the penalty area, giving himself a chance to shoot. However, the winger can only blast the ball into the side-netting from an acute angle.
CHANCE! Barcelona should be level. The Catalan giants have men over when Dembele picks up the ball in the final third but rather than pass to Griezmann, the winger is denied from 18 yards by Arrizabalaga.
There is going to be two minutes of added-on time. Barcelona continue to push for an equaliser, with this set of players probably aware that they will be withdrawn at the break.
HALF TIME: Barcelona 0-1 Chelsea
The half-time whistle goes in Saitama and Chelsea lead thanks to Abraham's well-taken goal. The Blues have had the better of this contest, although Barcelona did threaten at the start and end of the half.
I would brace yourself for plenty of alterations at the break. Lampard has named different lineups for each of his five halves of football as Chelsea boss, while Valverde won't push his players too hard on their first appearance of pre-season.
KICKOFF: We are back underway. Chelsea have made just the two alterations, although there have been far more for Barcelona. We will bring you up-to-date as soon as possible.
Luiz and Palmieri are the players to make way for Chelsea, with Zouma and Alonso being introduced into the action.
Tomori has also entered the fray in place of Christensen. New signings Neto and De Jong are among the players who are on for Barcelona.
SHOT! Barcelona have had the better of the exchanges since the restart. Malcom has got himself into the action by dragging a long-range effort just wide of the left-hand post.
Lampard is taking a position on the edge of his box on the touchline, looking like we wants his presence to lead to sharper play from Chelsea. He isn't having the desired effect so far.
SHOT! More positive play from Barcelona sees Rafinha get himself into a shooting position, although his left-footed strike from 20 yards is well dealt with by Arrizabalaga.
This is excellent play from Barcelona youngster Perez, who comes in-field by taking the ball past a couple of Chelsea players. However, his finish is poor, with a shot being bunted straight at Arrizabalaga.
Chelsea are struggling to cope with the fresh legs of their opponents. It's a consequence of none of them having played more than 45 minutes in a match during pre-season.
SHOT! Barcelona continue to knock on the door. Alena is teed up on the edge of the area, and Arrizabalaga has to get down to his left to keep out the midfielder's low strike.
SUBSTITUTIONS! Lampard has seen enough. Here come three changes, with Kenedy, Barkley and Giroud being introduced for Pulisic, Mount and Abraham.
SHOT! Yet another chance created by Barcelona. The ball was laid off for Rafinha to get a first-time shot away from distance, and Arrizabalaga needed to make another fine stop down to his left.
SHOT! Kenedy never needs much encouragement to get a shot away, and he doesn't here. His effort is deflected towards goal, and Neto needs to react sharply to prevent the ball finding the opposite corner.
Chelsea have regained some control now, slowing the pace down and waiting for Barcelona to come onto them. The Barcelona players are probably content to take a breather.
As we enter the final quarter, I will inform you that we will have a penalty shootout if this game ends goalless. I have no idea why, but I suppose it would add a bit of drama.
We continue to see a mixed bag from Kenedy, who needlessly tries to find the top corner from distance with his weaker right foot before impressing in the middle of the park by keeping hold of the ball.
SUBSTITUTIONS! Here come the next wave of changes with Zappacosta replacing Kovacic, Bakayoko coming on for Azpilicueta, Batshuayi being introduced for Pedro and Drinkwater taking the spot of Jorginho.
Chelsea look like they are playing in a 4-4-2, although that may become a diamond depending on whether Kenedy remains in a rigid position. Still, Chelsea have been better over the last 10 minutes.
We have another break in play with Zouma needing treatment after a poor challenge from Rafinha. It was needless.
CHANCE! Big chance for Chelsea. A pass is threaded through to Batshuayi, who should score from close range. However, the Belgian cannot force an effort past Neto at the near post.
It is all Chelsea again now. The Barcelona backline are having to defend on the edge of their own penalty area. Chelsea are having success with playing Batshuayi on the left-hand side of a three-man attack.
GOAL! BARCELONA 0-2 CHELSEA (ROSS BARKLEY)
© Reuters
GOAL! Chelsea finally double their advantage, and in fine style, too. Alonso passed inside to Barkley from the left, and the midfielder took a touch before sending a left-footed effort into the bottom corner from 20 yards out.
That should be enough to wrap up the game for Chelsea, although Barcelona have gone straight onto the front foot in search of a goal. Lampard would love to his side keep a clean sheet against a side of Barcelona's quality.
The Chelsea defence just got pulled out of position far too easily, with Kenedy needing to come to the rescue on the right-hand side. The Brazilian is giving another positive account here.
I wouldn't expect too much added-on time at the start of this match, unless we get some additional minutes due to an injury to Kenedy. The wideman has just taken a knock to his ankle.
Barcelona have a late chance to score a consolation goal after Drinkwater concedes a free kick right on the edge of the area.
SHOT! Rakitic takes responsibility for the set piece, but can only fire well over the crossbar. We head into add-on time.
GOAL! BARCELONA 1-2 CHELSEA (IVAN RAKITIC)
GOAL! This is some way to redeem yourself. Rakitic tries his luck from 25 yards, and manages to find the top corner of Arrizabalaga's net. The goalkeeper had no chance.
FULL TIME: Barcelona 1-2 Chelsea
The full-time whistle goes in Saitama and Chelsea have held on to register a fine 2-1 win over Barcelona. Lampard will be slightly disappointed having failed to keep a clean sheet, but this was a strong performance from the Blues.
That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us today, and we hope to see you again soon.
If you would like to read our on-the-whistle match report, you can do so by clicking here. Goodbye for now.
Written by
Darren Plant
Darren Plant
