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As Ernesto Valverde's Barcelona took on Frank Lampard's Chelsea in a high-profile friendly in Japan, the Catalan giants suffered a 1-2 defeat at the hands of the London outfit.
Tammy Abraham and Ross Barkley scored either side of half-time to put Chelsea 2-0 ahead as Ivan Rakitic's wondrous last-gasp strike turned out to be a consolation.
Antoine Griezmann featured for the first time as a Barcelona player, as did Frenkie de Jong and despite the result, the pair went on to have decent first outings for their new club.
The likes of Riqui Puig, Carles Alena, Jean-Claire Todibo and Oriol Busquets featured among others as the Catalan giants gave their young players a run-out against a quality side.
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Barcelona can afford to overlook the result and take positives for their performances as a handful of players gave a good account of themselves.
That said, let's look at 5 of the standout players from Spanish giants as they came up short against Chelsea.
#1 - Antoine Griezmann
After sealing his dream move this summer, Antoine Griezmann finally got his first minutes for his new club and it didn't take him long to show the fans what he's all about.
The Frenchman started the game as a No.9, with fellow countryman Ousmane Dembele on the right-flank and his energetic performance gave the fans a glimpse of what he's got to offer.
Griezmann topped off his lively performance with some brilliant link-up play and only a fantastic save from Kepa Arrizabalaga prevented him for opening his account for the Blaugrana.
Aside from his link-up play, the World Cup winner's work-rate was an encouraging sign as his tireless off-the-ball running eased the pressure on his team in the opening exchanges.
Alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, the Frenchman looks like he can be a key player as the Spanish giants look to compete on all fronts next season.
Also check out: La Liga La Liga fixtures La liga table 2019-20
#2 - Frenkie de Jong
Frenkie de Jong made his much-anticipated debut for Barcelona in the second half and he was one of the only bright-sparks in an otherwise dull forty-five minutes.
The Dutchman started at the heart of the midfield and it didn't take long for him to make an impact.
Most of Barcelona's play went through the 21-year-old and he registered 24 touches in the opening 10 minutes of the second half, a staggering tally for a player making his debut for the club.
De Jong's unique qualities made him one of the most sought-after midfielders in world football and the Catalan giants didn't hesitate to part with £75 million, a further indication of the player's quality.
The midfield maestro will look to build on his exploits as the season progresses and play a starring role for his new club, as Barcelona and Lionel Messi, in particular, covet the European Cup that has eluded them for four years now.
#3 - Riqui Puig
Another one of Barcelona's La Masia products, the diminutive Spaniard started in the center of the park alongside fellow countrymen Sergio Busquets and Sergi Roberto and put up a spirited performance.
The 19-year-old's quick movements and crisp passes immediately caught the eye and kept growing in stature as the game progressed, giving the fans a glimpse of what he's capable of.
Puig started in a midfield trio alongside seasoned pros like Busquets and Roberto and it could be argued that he outperformed his countrymen, a further indication of his immense potential.
The youngster's exquisite back-heel almost lead to the opening goal for the Catalan giants as Ousmane Dembele's effort forced a brilliant save from Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Puig is one of Barcelona's crown jewels and is one of the most highly-rated prospects in the country. Alongside Carles Alena, he been dubbed to play a big part in Barcelona's future.
#4 - Rafinha
The Spaniard is a forgotten man at Camp Nou as Barcelona have an array of central-midfield options at their disposal.
Starting the second half in one of the forward positions alongside Malcom and youngster Carles Perez, Rafinha was one of the standout players in the second half as he ran the show in the final third.
The 26-year-old combined brilliantly with Malcom and provided Barcelona an incision in the final third as the Catalan giants kept knocking on Chelsea's door in the second half.
Although he didn't trouble the score-sheet, he was a constant threat as Chelsea struggled to keep up with his pace and trickery.
Pre-season is often seen as an opportunity for players to force their way back into their manager's plans and Rafinha did no harm to his reputation with his performances.
His spirited showing is sure to have caught Ernesto Valverde's eye and with Philippe Coutinho's future still unclear, Rafinha could well stick around with his boyhood side as a squad player.
