The former Athletic Madrid star player Antoine Griezmann made his keenly awaited Barcelona FC but it doesn’t went as he would have hoped as Chelsea beat Barcelona by 2-1 goals in a at Saitama on Tuesday.
The French World Cup winner Griezmann who had joined the club in a EUR 120 million move earlier this month made little impact during his 45-minute appearance.
Chelsea went in front front through Tammy Abraham’s 34th-minute goal. Barcelona looked bright at the start of the second period before Ross Barkley’s fine finish nine minutes from time sealed the win, despite Ivan Rakitic’s late strike.
Chelsea continues its preparations for the 2019-20 season with a game against Championship side Reading on Sunday, while Barca take on Vissel Kobe — and their former player Andres Iniesta — a day earlier.
Barcelona could — and perhaps should — have gone ahead inside the opening minute but Oriol Busquets’ header from eight yards sailed over Kepa Arrizabalaga’s goal.
Abraham was equally wasteful in the 23rd minute, blazing a half-volley over from six yards after Marc-Andre ter Stegen had failed to hold Christian Pulisic’s powerful strike. The striker made up for that miss soon after, though, coolly rounding Ter Stegen and slotting into an empty net after Jorginho had cut out Sergio Busquets’ sloppy pass on the edge of the penalty area.