Bisiwu Brace and Yamal Penalty Secure 5-2 Barcelona Win Over Basel

Barcelona beat Basel 5-2 at St. Jakob's Park behind a late Jesse Bisiwu double and Lamine Yamal's first goal since winning the World Cup.

Barcelona beat Basel 5-2 on Sunday at St. Jakob's Park, highlighted by an 89th and 91st-minute brace from 18-year-old summer signing Jesse Bisiwu. Karim Adeyemi opened the scoring for the Spanish champions in the 34th minute before Jean Doucouré equalized for the Swiss side. Hamza Abdelkarim restored the lead with his third goal of the preseason, followed by a Lamine Yamal penalty. Kazeem Olaigbe converted a late spot-kick for Basel before Bisiwu’s two-goal flurry in stoppage time secured the three-goal margin of victory.

Lamine Yamal made his first appearance for the club since winning the World Cup with Spain, entering as a substitute to score from the penalty spot. The opportunity arose after Jules Koundé was fouled in the area. Yamal later provided an assist for Bisiwu’s final goal in the 91st minute. Bisiwu, who joined from Club Brugge last month for a fee of €8 million ($9.2m), scored his first two goals for the Blaugrana after coming off the bench. His first strike in the 89th minute was assisted by Dani Olmo.

Adeyemi and Doucouré Trade First-Half Goals

Anthony Gordon made his first start for Barça following a €70m transfer from Newcastle United. Operating on the left wing, Gordon utilized his pace to create early opportunities while Raphinha played through the middle and Adeyemi occupied the right flank. The deadlock was broken when Raphinha delivered a pass to Adeyemi, who found space in the center of the box to drill the ball home.

Basel, despite fielding a heavily rotated lineup, responded before the halftime whistle. The 17-year-old Jean Doucouré leveled the score with a smart finish from the edge of the penalty area. The Swiss Super League side entered the match with three games of domestic league play already completed, contrasting with a Barça squad integrating several players for their first minutes of the summer.

Second Half Substitutions and Penalty Exchanges

Egypt international Hamza Abdelkarim put Barcelona back in front during the second half by converting a cross from Adeyemi. Following Yamal’s successful penalty, Basel reduced the deficit to 3-2. The referee awarded the Swiss side a spot-kick after Brian Fariñas committed a foul, which Kazeem Olaigbe successfully converted.

Defensive mainstay Pau Cubarsí and midfielder Dani Olmo joined Yamal in making their first preseason appearances after their World Cup triumph. Their inclusion preceded the final scoring burst from Bisiwu, which ended any hopes of a Basel comeback. The match served as the penultimate friendly for the Spanish champions before their official season begins.

Preparation for Joan Gamper Trophy and LaLiga Defense

Barcelona now travels to face Al Ahly on Wednesday for the Joan Gamper Trophy. This fixture represents the final tune-up before the club begins the defense of their LaLiga title. The domestic campaign officially kicks off on August 23 with an away match against Elche.

Recent club activity also includes the departure of Ferran Torres to Paris Saint-Germain and ongoing rumors regarding a new bid for Rodri. Additionally, Frenkie de Jong addressed recent media reports concerning a rift with Hansi Flick, dismissing the claims as fake news. The victory in Switzerland moves the team toward full fitness as the summer transfer window continues.