Barcelona ended their tour of Japan positively thanks to a brace from young academy player Carles Perez in a comfortable 0-2 win over Vissel Kobe in Japan. On a special night for some Kobe players such as Andres Iniesta, Samper and Villa, they were unable to compete with the Spanish side especially in the second half.
In the first period, Kobe kept their opponents at bay for most of the time and in fact had the first sight at goal when Barca were dispossessed deep in their own half. Iniesta struck wide of the target from 20 yards in the fourth minute. Just a few minutes later, Fujitani then saw his promising run halted before Barcelona got going.
Riqui Puig hit wide when Dankler was caught playing games in his own area before Rafinha tested the goalie in the 14th minute after a nice one-two with Griezmann. After that, the chances dried up for the away side, but they dominated possession and territory. Rakitic, who had to get a treatment on a knee injury, was the next to have a go on the half-hour after being fed by Riqui Puig, but his shot was deflected wide.
Andres Iniesta then had an effort for Kobe five minutes before the break after a dangerous run by Ogawa before Barca then put Kobe, who hardly threatened Ter Stegen, on the ropes.
Griezmann fired an Alba cross well over the bar before Rakitic forced Maekawa to dive to his right to prevent Barca from taking the lead with a shot from outside the area. That was almost the last act of the first period and after a raft of changes at the interval, the gulf in class between the two sides was plain to see.
Todibo hit the post with a header from a corner just 65 seconds after the resumption before Dembele made a few promising runs for the Catalan outfit. One of them in the 55th minute saw his shot deflected for a corner after being passed the ball by Malcom. Barca were pressing and just four minutes later, they were rewarded with the opening goal.
21 year-old Carles Perez had possession outside the box before playing a lovely one-two with Malcom. After receiving the return ball, Perez kept his composure to slot it past the goalie and into the net. A goal the youngster deserved given the fact that he also shone in the side's defeat to Chelsea last Tuesday.
Barca continued to pile the pressure on after that and Alena missed the target in the 63rd minute. Kobe did have one half-chance through Yasui, but it was an anomaly in a second half which was plain sailing for the La Liga team. Alena squandered a guilt-edged opportunity 18 minutes from time when he was one on one with the GK. He was caught in two minds as he did not know whether to hit the ball hard or lob the goalkeeper. In the end, he did neither.
Malcom, who got the assist for the opening goal, should have had a goal himself in the 77th minute, but he inexplicably hit the crossbar when it was put on a plate for him and it was easier to score than miss. Dembele was then denied by the keeper in the 81st minute before Carles Perez killed the game in the 86th minute.
Guillem Jaime passed the ball to him and he shot across the keeper. The ball went in after hitting the base of the far post. It could have been more at the end as Malcom and Frenkie de Jong missed chances, but Barca will leave Japan happy after a much improved performance in this game. Their next match is next Sunday at home to Arsenal in the Gamper Trophy while Kobe can now focus on the league as they are in the middle of a relegation battle.