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Barcelona made it two wins from as many pre-season friendlies as goals from Lionel Messi and Philippe Coutinho gave them a 3-1 victory over Girona.
The Camp Nou side started the game on a strong note and forced Juan Carlos into some early saves before Philippe Coutinho broke the deadlock midway through the first half. It was no less than what Barcelona deserved for their dominant start. Not long thereafter, captain Lionel Messi doubled his team's advantage right on the stroke of half-time, with a fine finish from outside the box.
Girona halved the deficit with virtually the first kick of the second half, but Messi was on hand to restore Barcelona's two-goal advantage just five minutes later.
A raft of changes were made by both sides as the two managers sought to try out as many players as possible, which consequently had an impact on the tempo of the game. Despite fashioning some good chances in the final 30 minutes, neither side was able to find the back of the net again, but it took nothing away from what was a highly entertaining fixture.
Girona now begin their quest to return to La Liga when they visit Sporting Gijon in the Segunda Division while Barcelona play host to Elche in the Joan Gamper trophy in their final pre-season fixture.
On that note, let us take a loot at five talking points from Barcelona's 3-1 win in their friendly game against Girona at the Johan Cruyff stadium.
#5 Philippe Coutinho continues his fine run of recent form for Barcelona
It is no secret that things have not panned out well for Philippe Coutinho since his record-breaking transfer to Barcelona in January 2018.
However, after spending the last year on loan with Bayern Munich, the Brazilian international is ready for a second chapter at Camp Nou, with new Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman stating his willingness to give the former Liverpool man a clean slate and a fresh start.
Coutinho, seemingly ready to make the most of the same, has sent out a statement of intent with his fine displays in the pre-season.
Having wrapped up the scoring from the penalty spot in Barcelona's 3-1 victory over Gimnastic Terragona on Saturday, Coutinho opened the scoring against Girona by tapping into an empty net after some intricate play between Messi and Trincao. The 28-year-old, who had earlier hit the post from outside the area, gave a fine all-round performance before leaving the field on the hour mark.
The season ahead is a make-or-break one for Coutinho's Barcelona career, but on the evidence of his pre-season displays, the player looks ready to rewrite his Camp Nou story.
#4 Ronald Koeman intent on changing Barcelona's playing style
For the best part of the last two decades, Barcelona operated with a tried-and-tested 4-3-3 formation that had been a prominent feature in the most successful period of the club's history. However, it seems that new manager Ronald Koeman could depart from the status quo.
In each of his first two games in charge, the former Everton gaffer sent out his team in a 4-2-3-1 formation where a double-pivot system shielded the defence while an attacking midfielder operated behind the centre-forward.
Against Girona, Sergio Busquets and Frenkie de Jong sat in front of the backline while Philippe Coutinho, who was flanked by Messi and Francisco Trincao, played behind Antoine Griezmann.
This is a vastly different system to what the Barcelona players have been used to for most of their careers, and Koeman admitted as much after the win against Gimnastic when he stated:
''It's perhaps a little different and more defensive to what we have seen in the last few years. But the aim is to move the ball, hold on to it and create space to play between the lines, behind the opponents' midfield. I think this team is capable of doing this because we have midfielders who are able to play in that way.''
With previous attempts to alter Barcelona's style of play having had disastrous consequences, it remains to be seen whether Ronald Koeman can successfully implement this different formation.
#3 Absence of Luis Suarez provides further credence to his Barcelona departure rumours
For the second game running, Ronald Koeman did not include striker Luis Suarez in his team in what could be construed as a major pointer that the Uruguayan's time with Barcelona could be up.
Koeman had reportedly told the Uruguayan international that he is one of four players unwanted at the club, with Juventus among several sides linked with Suarez.
In Suarez's absence, both Messi and Griezmann have led the Barcelona line in the club's first two games of the off-season,which could be a strong pointer towards Koeman's plans for his forward line.
#2 La Masia youngsters impress
Ronald Koeman named a strong starting lineup for the clash with Girona by including regulars like Frenkie de Jong, Messi, Griezmann, Busquets and Gerard Pique.
However, with an hour gone, the Dutch manager made a slew of changes, with nine of the ten outfield players (except Rafel Araujo) all taken out and replaced by mostly La Masia hopefuls. Most of these youngsters took maximum advantage of their time on the field and made an impact.
Riqui Puig and Ansu Fati already have regular experience of playing with the Barcelona first-team. Perhaps buoyed by the exploits of the duo last season, their fellow academy graduates made the most of their limited opportunity.
One of them was Konrad de la Fuenta who made some intelligent running and constantly linked well with Pedri; the pair may consider themselves unlucky not to have gotten on the scoresheet.
Considering their promising performances, Ronald Koeman would surely be promoting some of these players to the senior team in the coming months, and that would be no less than what they deserve.
#1 Lionel Messi is the difference maker once again
It seems like eons ago when Lionel Messi dropped the bombshell that he wanted to leave Barcelona, but thankfully, the dust has settled on what could have blown into an ugly and protracted saga.
Fans of the club were shaken at Messi's initial annoucement and rightly so, as without their talismanic skipper, the Blaugrana are only a little above ordinary.
Having started out as the focal point of the forward line in Barcelona's last game, Messi was deployed on the right-side, and it was from this position that he wrecked havoc on the Girona defence.
The Barcelona captain combined brilliantly with Trincao to set Coutinho for the opener before helping himself to a brace.
The first of his two finishes surprisingly came from outside the box and off his weaker right foot, but that took nothing away from the spectacular finish that went in off the post after he spun his way round a defender. His second was a rather fortuitous one as it went in off a heavy deflection off Bernado.
All in all, it was another Man-of-the-Match performance from the Rosario native, reminding everyone why Barcelona fans were keen to see their captain remain at the club.
