As part of Barcelona’s tradition, the club welcomes the new season with a Joan Gamper festival. The festival sees the club’s sporting teams take on invited guests to participate in a pre-season match in front of their home crowd, with the Joan Gamper trophy as the prize. This year, FC Barcelona Femeni played against Juventus women in the Joan Gamper and won in dramatic fashion, much to the amusement of Barcelona fans around the world.
Barcelona started the game with a starting lineup consisting of familiar faces. The result of which was quickly seen as Barca were 4-0 up at halftime, courtesy of goals from Caroline Graham Hansen, Bruna Vilamala, Vicky Lopez, and an own goal.
L' 1️⃣1️⃣ inicial al Gamper 💙❤️ pic.twitter.com/c3vinF4kzU
— FC Barcelona Femení (@FCBfemeni) August 24, 2023
Claudia Pina almost opened the scoring for Barcelona in the second minute when her shot veered slightly off target following a sleek exchange of passes in the Juventus penalty area. Caroline Graham Hansen was on hand to open the scoring in the fifth minute. The Norwegian forward pounced on a loose ball in the box and finished beautifully with her left foot.
Bruna Vilamala struck the base of the post in the 33rd minute after Vicky Lopez won the ball off a Juventus defender. However, the ball still ended up in the back of the net courtesy of an own goal. A Juventus defender who tried to clear the ball fired her shot against her own player, and saw her failed attempt at a clearance put Barcelona two goals ahead.
Bruna Vilamala eventually got her goal two minutes later after finishing a cross from Claudia Pina with a half volley that ended up in the back of the net. Barcelona’s teenage midfielder, Vicky Lopez, scored Barca’s fourth goal of the game in similar fashion to Bruna’s goal, except this time the cross came from Lucia Corrales.
Vicky Lopez almost got her second goal of the match in the 68th minute when she latched on to a pass from Patri Guijarro. However, the teenager’s shot went wide of the goal. Claudia Pina also came close to scoring after neat footwork and an exchange of passes between her and Patri Guijarro, but ended up placing her shot over the crossbar.
Barcelona’s last goal of the game came in the 76th minute, when Mapi Leon scored from a scramble in the box following a Barcelona corner.
Quina victòria per seguir sumant en gran aquesta temporada 💙❤️ pic.twitter.com/PU6CFRT6sv
— FC Barcelona Femení (@FCBfemeni) August 24, 2023
The match ended 5-0 in favor of the Blaugrana, and the win serves as a great start to the preseason in Mexico.
