Seoul vs Barcelona: 3-7, ITZY’s Attendance Wasn’t Enough
FC Barcelona produced a commanding attacking display in Seoul today, on July 31, leading FC Seoul 7–3 as the match entered its final quarter. The friendly, held at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, drew nearly 63,000 spectators and featured high-profile performances from both sides. Among those in attendance were members of K-pop group ITZY, who were spotted in the stands enjoying the spectacle.
Early Dominance from the Visitors
Barcelona wasted no time establishing control. In the 10th minute, Robert Lewandowski opened the scoring after a quick attack involving Dani Olmo and Lamine Yamal. The 16-year-old Yamal then doubled the lead with a precise low shot from distance in the 15th minute.
Despite the early deficit, FC Seoul responded well. Jin-Su Kim’s interception set up Jo Yeon-uk, who pulled one back in the 27th minute with a powerful finish under the crossbar. The home side then found an equaliser through Al-Arab, who capitalised on a clever pass from Anderson Oliveira to slot home in the 45th minute.
Yamal’s Double Restores the Advantage
Barcelona reacted swiftly, as Yamal netted his second of the match just moments later. Olmo’s incisive ball found the teenager, who shook off his marker and fired into the top corner to restore the lead. The first half ended 3–2 in favour of the Spanish side.
A Revamped Barca Raise the Tempo
Both sides made several changes during the interval, with Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick introducing nearly an entirely new lineup. The substitutions paid off. In the 55th minute, Andreas Christensen unleashed a thunderous strike from 24 metres, extending Barcelona’s lead to 4–2.
Barcelona continued to threaten through Marcus Rashford and Gavi, while Seoul relied on counter-attacks. The South Korean side came close to scoring again, but Wojciech Szczęsny made a crucial save to deny Duđan Đugić after a defensive error from Barça.
Torres Strikes Fifth as Barcelona Take Control
Ferran Torres added a fifth goal in the 74th minute, finding the net after sustained pressure from the visitors. By this stage, Barcelona’s superior attacking depth was evident, with Seoul struggling to contain their fluid forward movements.
The high-profile friendly showcased Barcelona’s depth and attacking prowess, but FC Seoul were far from passive participants, with standout contributions from Al-Arab and Jo Yeon-uk.
Gavi and Han-Min Cheon Add Late Drama
Barcelona continued their fluid attacking play, and in the 77th minute Gavi made it 6–2 with a composed low finish after a sharp move involving Gerard Martín. Shortly after, Gavi was substituted for Thomas Fernández, who nearly scored himself but was denied by a fine save from Seoul’s keeper Chul-Won Choi.
Seoul Show Spirit, But Torres Seals It
Seoul responded late through Han-Min Cheon, who calmly finished in the 86th minute after a sharp pass from Lucas Silva. However, any hope of a comeback was short-lived. Just two minutes later, Marcus Rashford played a clever pass through to Ferran Torres, who broke through the defence and scored his second of the night with a composed low finish to make it 7–3.
In the 89th minute, Choi Jun tried his luck from distance for Seoul, but his effort flew well over the bar.
Spectacle On and Off the Pitch
Surprise guests alert 🚨
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 31, 2025
깜짝 방문한 게스트를 공개합니다!@SpotifyKR @ITZYofficial 👀 pic.twitter.com/qCqHNH89ZV
The encounter was not only notable for the footballing quality but also the vibrant atmosphere in the stadium. ITZY’s presence added star power to the crowd, and their reactions to the goals were widely captured by cameras.
Kursiv also reports that Liverpool recorded a 3-1 win over Yokohama F. Marinos in a pre-season friendly at Nissan Stadium in Japan.
